Category: Education

  • U’khand panchayat polls: 1st phase of voting begins, CM Dhami to cast vote in Khatima

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday arrived in Khatima to cast his vote as the first phase of the three-tier panchayat elections commenced across the state.

    He reached Khatima via helicopter and landed at the helipad of Saraf Public School. After this, he headed to the Nagla Tarai Primary School polling booth to exercise his right to vote.

    The voting, being held in two phases across 12 districts — excluding Haridwar — is set to decide thousands of local representatives.

    According to the notification issued by the Uttarakhand State Election Commission, a total of 2,247 candidates are in the fray for 948 member Gram Panchayat seats, while 9,731 candidates are contesting for 3,393 Pradhan Gram Panchayat posts.

    Additionally, 4,980 candidates are contesting for 1,507 Area Panchayat member positions and 871 for 201 District Panchayat member posts.

    An estimated 26 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in this first phase. Despite persistent monsoon showers, voters turned up in large numbers, forming long queues outside polling booths in various parts of the state.

    A total of 1,240 polling personnel were deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of elections, while tight security arrangements were put in place to maintain law and order throughout the process.

    Earlier in the day, CM Dhami took to X to appeal to voters, saying, “Today, the first phase of voting for the three-tier panchayat elections is taking place. I appeal to all the divine people of the state to reach the polling stations in large numbers and exercise their voting rights.”

    “With your vote, choose capable, aware, and dedicated representatives who will strongly raise your voice and strengthen the foundation of rural development. Your single vote is an important step towards a robust Panchayati Raj system,” he added.

    The second phase of voting is scheduled for July 28, and counting of votes will take place on July 31.

    (IANS)

  • U’khand panchayat polls: 1st phase of voting begins, CM Dhami to cast vote in Khatima

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday arrived in Khatima to cast his vote as the first phase of the three-tier panchayat elections commenced across the state.

    He reached Khatima via helicopter and landed at the helipad of Saraf Public School. After this, he headed to the Nagla Tarai Primary School polling booth to exercise his right to vote.

    The voting, being held in two phases across 12 districts — excluding Haridwar — is set to decide thousands of local representatives.

    According to the notification issued by the Uttarakhand State Election Commission, a total of 2,247 candidates are in the fray for 948 member Gram Panchayat seats, while 9,731 candidates are contesting for 3,393 Pradhan Gram Panchayat posts.

    Additionally, 4,980 candidates are contesting for 1,507 Area Panchayat member positions and 871 for 201 District Panchayat member posts.

    An estimated 26 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in this first phase. Despite persistent monsoon showers, voters turned up in large numbers, forming long queues outside polling booths in various parts of the state.

    A total of 1,240 polling personnel were deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of elections, while tight security arrangements were put in place to maintain law and order throughout the process.

    Earlier in the day, CM Dhami took to X to appeal to voters, saying, “Today, the first phase of voting for the three-tier panchayat elections is taking place. I appeal to all the divine people of the state to reach the polling stations in large numbers and exercise their voting rights.”

    “With your vote, choose capable, aware, and dedicated representatives who will strongly raise your voice and strengthen the foundation of rural development. Your single vote is an important step towards a robust Panchayati Raj system,” he added.

    The second phase of voting is scheduled for July 28, and counting of votes will take place on July 31.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Historic ruling finds climate change ‘imperils all forms of life’ and puts laggard nations on notice

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Law and Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne

    Hilaire Bule/Getty

    Climate change “imperils all forms of life” and countries must tackle the problem or face consequences under international law, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found.

    The court delivered its long-awaited advisory opinion overnight. The momentous case opens the door for countries impacted by climate disasters to sue major emitting countries for reparations.

    And citizens could seek to hold governments to account for a failure to safeguard their human rights if their own or other countries fail to take adequate action to ensure a safe climate.

    Here’s what the court ruled – and the global ramifications likely to flow from it.

    Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu delivers a speech at a demonstration before the International Court of Justice issued its first advisory opinion on state’s legal obligations to address climate change.
    John Thys/AFP

    Climate change breaches human rights

    The ICJ case was instigated by law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu in 2019. They successfully launched a campaign for the court to examine two key issues: the obligations of countries to protect the climate from greenhouse gases, and the legal consequences for failing to do so.

    The court found a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment of many other human rights. As such, it found, the full enjoyment of human rights cannot be ensured without the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment.

    The ruling confirms climate change is much more than a legal problem. Rather, the justices concluded, it is an:

    existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life and the very health of our planet.

    Most nations have signed up to global human rights agreements such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The ICJ ruling means parties to those agreements must take measures to protect the climate system and other parts of the environment.

    An advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice is not legally binding. But it is an authoritative description of the state of the law and the rights of countries to seek reparations if the law is breached. As such, it carries great legal weight.

    Just as climate science assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have become the gold standard for understanding the causes and impacts of climate change, the court’s ruling provides a clear baseline against which to assess countries’ action, or inaction, on climate change.

    Keeping 1.5°C alive?

    In recent years, many states’ emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement have seemed to “settle” at levels which would hold global temperature increases to 2°C at best.

    But the International Court of Justice ruled the much more ambitious 1.5°C goal had become the scientifically based consensus target under the Paris Agreement.

    Some countries argued formal emissions targets should be left to the discretion of each government. However, the court found against this. Rather, each nation’s targets had to be in line with – and make an adequate contribution to – the global goal of holding heating to 1.5°C.

    The court found each state’s emissions reduction pledges should be judged against a stringent “due diligence” standard. The standard takes into account each country’s historical contributions to emissions, level of development and national circumstances, among other factors.

    The ruling means rich countries, such as Australia, will be required under international law to make more ambitious emission-reduction pledges under the Paris Agreement, such as for the 2035 target currently under consideration by the Albanese government.

    The court decision also provides a measure of climate justice for small island states, which have historically low emissions but face a much higher risk of damage from climate change than other nations.

    Holding states accountable for inaction

    Because climate change is global, it is difficult – but not impossible – to attribute damage from extreme weather to the actions of any one nation or group of nations.

    On this question, the court said while climate change is caused by the cumulative impact of many human activities, it is scientifically possible to determine each nation’s total contribution to global emissions, taking into account both historical and current emissions.

    If a nation experiences damage caused by the failure of another nation, or group of nations, to fulfil international climate obligations, the ruling means legal proceedings may be launched against the nations causing the harm. It may result in compensation or other remedies.

    For small, climate-vulnerable nations such as those in the Alliance of Small Island States, this opens more legal options in their efforts to encourage high-emitting nations to properly address climate change.

    Importantly, the court made clear nations can be legally liable even if damage from climate change comes from many causes, including from the activities of private actors such as companies.

    That means nations cannot seek an exemption because others have contributed to the problem. They must also act to regulate companies and other entities under their jurisdiction whose activities contribute to climate change.

    Pacific Island nations emit very little but face huge threats from climate change.
    Luca Turati/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND

    Paris Agreement quitters aren’t safe

    One line of argument put to the court by Australia and other states was that climate treaties represented the only obligations to tackle climate change under international law.

    But the court found this was not the case. Rather, other international laws applied.

    The United States pulled out of the Paris Agreement earlier this year. The court’s opinion means the US and other nations are still accountable for climate harms under other international laws by which all countries are bound.

    Could this lead to greater climate action?

    The International Court of Justice has produced a truly historic ruling.

    It will set a new baseline in terms what countries need to do to address climate change and opens up new avenues of recourse against high-emitting states not doing enough on climate change.

    Jacqueline Peel receives funding from the Australian Research Council under her Australian Laureate Fellowship and Kathleen Fitzpatrick Award on ‘Transforming International Law for Corporate Climate Accountability’.

    ref. Historic ruling finds climate change ‘imperils all forms of life’ and puts laggard nations on notice – https://theconversation.com/historic-ruling-finds-climate-change-imperils-all-forms-of-life-and-puts-laggard-nations-on-notice-261848

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Data Center Next Door: As Trump Eviscerates Guardrails, Senator Markey Hosts Roundtable Discussion on How AI Data Centers Can Harm Environment, Increase Costs to Households, and Threaten Public Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    View Storybook (PDF)

    Washington (July 23, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a co-chair of the Environmental Justice Caucus and a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, today hosted a virtual roundtable discussion titled “The Data Center Next Door: Hidden Costs and Harms of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptomining.” Senator Markey was joined by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), frontline advocates, and allies to discuss the effects of rapid data center development on climate and communities, including impacts on local air quality, water, grid reliability, health, and utility bills. Speakers highlighted how communities and allied organizations across the country are working to curb harms from data center build-out and how policymakers can more proactively address unsustainable data center development.

    Today, Senator Markey also released a new storybook highlighting the personal experiences of individuals living near data center infrastructure.

    “I have heard from people across the country whose stories make clear: unregulated, uncontrolled data center development is sucking our communities dry. Our environment doesn’t have to be a sacrificial lamb on the altar of innovation. We can have green growth—but not if we have Trump’s AI Inaction Plan as our Big Tech Bible. Lawmakers at all levels of government can and must ensure the Trump administration’s no-holds-barred approach to data center construction does not come at the cost of our health and welfare,” said Senator Markey. “We are not truly moving forward if we harm and leave people behind in the process. We owe it to our neighbors, near and far, to address these impacts at the federal level before we see a race to the bottom—one that could even disadvantage states and towns that try to do things right.”

    “The heart of my district is seeing the environmental impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) first-hand, with the world’s biggest supercomputer beginning operations last year. It requires one million gallons of water each day to cool its components and uses the same amount of energy as all 250,000 households in Memphis combined. The continued development of AI will have a drastic effect on energy and water costs and consumption, and our environment as a whole,” said Congressman Cohen.

    “Bitcoin mining is the most energy and water-intensive technology ever created. As long as the bitcoin mining algorithm is operating at scale, it is impossible to make the transition to a resilient, equitable, affordable, and renewable grid,” said Jackie Sawicky, member of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining (NCAC).

    “Families across America are struggling to afford their soaring electric bills as a result of energy-guzzling AI data centers. We cannot afford to let AI fuel a new fossil fuel boom that raises our bills and destroys our environment,” said Ben Inskeep, Program Director at Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana.

    “West Virginia has long borne the brunt of powering our country via the extraction of our natural resources. This legacy and continued pollution from fossil fuel industries worsened health disparities, increased our utility bills, and poisoned our air and water. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence development and the numerous proposals of fossil fuel powered data centers in our region simply carries on that toxic tradition of resource extraction, corporate exploitation, and harmful pollution for West Virginians,” said Morgan King, Climate and Energy Program Manager at West Virginia Citizen Action Group.

    “What’s happening in Virginia is unsustainable and the desire to go even faster is irresponsible. The impacts are too great and the risks are too high, we must slow down and put better guardrails in place,” said Julie Bolthouse, AICP, Director of Land Use at Piedmont Environmental Council.

    “Over the last year, xAI installed and operated dozens of unpermitted methane gas turbines at its Memphis data center, essentially building a power plant without any public oversight or input from nearby communities. These turbines pump out smog-forming pollution and harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and are located near predominantly Black communities that are already overburdened with a long history of environmental injustice. Families in South Memphis deserve transparency and clean air,” said Amanda Garcia, senior attorney in the Tennessee office of the Southern Environmental Law Center.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Books – SNAKE TALK: How the world’s ancient serpent stories can guide us

    Source: Text Publishing Company

    Book Authors – Tyson Yunkaporta & Megan Kelleher.

    Shining an Indigenous light on contemporary society, Snake Talk invites us to see the world through the eye of the snake

    The Serpent in Aboriginal stories is both creator and destroyer, dwelling between physical and spiritual worlds, between story and history, weaving across earth and sky. The Great Dividing Range is the body of the Serpent, but he does not separate us—he brings us together.

    What if this ancient Lore can be found everywhere? What if the stories of the Basilisk, Wyvern, Naga, Quetzalcoatl and many other mythic Serpents also contain the knowledge we need in this moment of crisis?

    In Snake Talk, Tyson Yunkaporta and Megan Kelleher follow these stories around the world from Kathmandu to Aotearoa, from Mesoamerica to China to northern Europe. They ask how we can align our human gifts with the patterns of creation, seeking answers from makers who pay homage to the Serpent in images and objects.

    This exhilarating new book—like Sand Talk and Right Story, Wrong Story—shines an Indigenous light on contemporary society. Snake Talk invites us to see the world through the eye of the Serpent.

     ‘An extraordinary invitation into the world of the Dreaming…Unheralded.’ Melissa Lucashenko on Sand Talk

    ‘Bristles with revelation…Vigorous brilliance…both sensible and subversive.’ Age on Right Story, Wrong Story

    Tyson Yunkaporta:


    Tyson Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar, founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne, and author of Sand Talk. His work focuses on applying Indigenous methods of inquiry to resolve complex issues and explore global crises.

    Megan Kelleher:

    Megan Kelleher belongs to the Barada and Kapalbara peoples of Central Queensland and the branch of the Kelleher clan living in regional Victoria. She is currently undertaking her PhD at RMIT University in the School of Media and Communication and was honoured to be awarded one of RMIT’s Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Pre‑Doctoral Fellowships in 2018.

    Megan is investigating whether the affordances of blockchain technology are culturally appropriate for Indigenous governance, and is undertaking this research as a core member of the Digital Ethnography Research Centre (DERC) and as a PhD Candidate within The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S). When she is not training to be an academic, Megan is a devoted mother of her three beautiful children, Eden, Diver and Onyx.

    2 SEP 2025
    Non-fiction Paperback, 224pp
    AU $36.99 / NZ $45.00
    ISBN 9781922790941

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Books – SNAKE TALK: How the world’s ancient serpent stories can guide us

    Source: Text Publishing Company

    Book Authors – Tyson Yunkaporta & Megan Kelleher.

    Shining an Indigenous light on contemporary society, Snake Talk invites us to see the world through the eye of the snake

    The Serpent in Aboriginal stories is both creator and destroyer, dwelling between physical and spiritual worlds, between story and history, weaving across earth and sky. The Great Dividing Range is the body of the Serpent, but he does not separate us—he brings us together.

    What if this ancient Lore can be found everywhere? What if the stories of the Basilisk, Wyvern, Naga, Quetzalcoatl and many other mythic Serpents also contain the knowledge we need in this moment of crisis?

    In Snake Talk, Tyson Yunkaporta and Megan Kelleher follow these stories around the world from Kathmandu to Aotearoa, from Mesoamerica to China to northern Europe. They ask how we can align our human gifts with the patterns of creation, seeking answers from makers who pay homage to the Serpent in images and objects.

    This exhilarating new book—like Sand Talk and Right Story, Wrong Story—shines an Indigenous light on contemporary society. Snake Talk invites us to see the world through the eye of the Serpent.

     ‘An extraordinary invitation into the world of the Dreaming…Unheralded.’ Melissa Lucashenko on Sand Talk

    ‘Bristles with revelation…Vigorous brilliance…both sensible and subversive.’ Age on Right Story, Wrong Story

    Tyson Yunkaporta:


    Tyson Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar, founder of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab at Deakin University in Melbourne, and author of Sand Talk. His work focuses on applying Indigenous methods of inquiry to resolve complex issues and explore global crises.

    Megan Kelleher:

    Megan Kelleher belongs to the Barada and Kapalbara peoples of Central Queensland and the branch of the Kelleher clan living in regional Victoria. She is currently undertaking her PhD at RMIT University in the School of Media and Communication and was honoured to be awarded one of RMIT’s Vice Chancellor’s Indigenous Pre‑Doctoral Fellowships in 2018.

    Megan is investigating whether the affordances of blockchain technology are culturally appropriate for Indigenous governance, and is undertaking this research as a core member of the Digital Ethnography Research Centre (DERC) and as a PhD Candidate within The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S). When she is not training to be an academic, Megan is a devoted mother of her three beautiful children, Eden, Diver and Onyx.

    2 SEP 2025
    Non-fiction Paperback, 224pp
    AU $36.99 / NZ $45.00
    ISBN 9781922790941

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • From Gujarat to global: How PM Modi’s diaspora diplomacy took root in the UK

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in London on Wednesday, he was greeted by thunderous chants of “Modi Modi”, “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, and “Vande Mataram” from the Indian community — an emphatic reminder of a diplomatic tradition he initiated decades ago, long before rising to India’s highest political office.

    This growing emotional and strategic connect with the Indian diaspora has become a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy under PM Modi, especially during his second term.

    The foundations of this approach were laid as early as 1993, when Narendra Modi — then BJP’s General Secretary in Gujarat and an emerging national figure — made an impromptu stop in the UK on his return from the United States. Although the visit was unplanned and brief, Modi ensured he connected with the Indian diaspora in the UK. He visited media hubs like Sunrise Radio and the Gujarati newspaper Naya Padkar, interacted with families in Croydon and Hastings, engaged in informal conversations, rode the London Underground, and exchanged ideas with everyday Indians living in Britain.

    “The seeds planted then would quietly nourish India’s diaspora diplomacy for decades to come,” the Modi Archive said in a post on X, while sharing a timeline of the Prime Minister’s engagements in the UK.

    By 1999, when Modi had become a key national figure and the BJP’s global voice, he returned to the UK for a five-day visit in October, shortly after the BJP’s sweeping national electoral victory. Then serving as BJP’s National General Secretary, Modi had just delivered a stellar performance in Gujarat — winning 20 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats and expanding the party’s grassroots presence from 1,000 to over 16,000 village units between 1985 and 1995. This visit was highlighted by a landmark event at the Swaminarayan School in Neasden, organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP (UK). Despite a cold drizzle, the hall was packed.

    Notable attendees included Lord Navnit Dholakia, MP Barry Gardiner (Chairman of Labour Friends of India), and C.B. Patel, editor of Gujarat Samachar.

    “BJP stands for nationalism and patriotism,” Narendra Modi was quoted as saying by the Modi Archive.

    During this visit, he expanded on India’s democratic traditions, the NDA’s policy vision, and paid homage to Gandhian ideals — illustrating the BJP’s ideological clarity and moral purpose. He framed the BJP not just as a political force, but as a cultural and civilizational movement rooted in tradition, religion, modernity, and democracy. He further asserted that India’s democratic ethos is admired across the world.

    In addition, Modi was honoured by the Lohana Mahajan community, where he commended overseas Indians for serving as authentic ambassadors of Indian civilisation. He also paid a visit to 10 Downing Street during the trip.

    Modi’s emphasis on global awareness continued during another visit to the UK in 2000. In September that year, he stopped in London en route to the World Hindu Conference in the Caribbean and the UN Peace Summit in the US. At the time, he was about to assume the influential position of BJP General Secretary (Organisation), a role only two others had held since the Jana Sangh era.

    During this short visit, Modi met British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and engaged in serious discussions on political stability in Asia, India’s regional situation, and the growing threat of international terrorism. He also met with members of the Overseas Friends of BJP and held teleconferences with C.B. Patel, updating them on the state of affairs in Gujarat and national security efforts in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Terrorism is an evil against humanity — whether in India, the Middle East, or Northern Ireland,” Modi said.

    It was a prescient warning that came a full year before the 9/11 attacks, at a time when much of the world had yet to perceive terrorism as a shared global menace.

    In August 2003, two years after the devastating Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat, Modi returned to the UK as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

    The purpose was to thank members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom had mobilised support, resources, and aid for the affected people.

    “You are all the real friends of Gujarat, and I have come to reciprocate the loyalty. We have slept in the street of death and today I have come to repay a debt of friendship to those who helped us in our hour of need,” Modi said, addressing thousands at the packed Wembley Conference Centre.

    He praised the diaspora not just for their financial contributions but for their deep emotional ties with India, calling them “the true friends of Gujarat”.

    During this visit, he also inaugurated the Shakti Hall at the Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice offices. True to his style, he spoke not just of the past, but also of the future.

    In a speech still fondly remembered by the editors of Asian Voice, Modi famously said, “IT is not Information Technology. IT is India Today. BT is not Biotechnology. It is Bharat Today. IT and IT equals IT. That means Information Technology and Indian Talent is India Tomorrow.”

    The visit also included a meeting with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was in London at the time. Modi later met a delegation of political leaders and diaspora members on the South Bank of the River Thames, near Westminster Bridge, opposite the iconic Houses of Parliament.

    Even in 2011, when Gujarat marked its golden jubilee, he virtually brought the UK into the celebrations. He addressed a high-profile audience in Mayfair, London, through video conferencing while in Gandhinagar, stating, “The name Gujarat and development are synonymous. Gujarat is creating history.”

    The event, hosted by Friends of Gujarat, Gujarat Samachar, and Asian Voice, brought together 90 distinguished guests including British MPs, Lords, and community leaders. Among them was Lord Gulam Noon, who had a direct and lively exchange with Modi.

    He used the opportunity to share his vision for the future. He announced the construction of the Mahatma Mandir, a monumental tribute rising from the soil of 18,000 villages — and including ‘mitti’ sent by Gujaratis living abroad.

    “In this Golden Jubilee celebration, we have decided to build a Mahatma Mandir. We have collected earth from 18,000 villages in Gujarat to make this monument. We have also collected earth from abroad, especially the UK,” he said.

    The message was clear: for Narendra Modi, the diaspora has never been a passive audience.

    It has always been, and continues to be, an integral part of India’s journey — a partner in progress and a powerful force in shaping India’s global image.

    Now, as Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi continues to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by overseas Indians in deepening people-to-people ties and in promoting India’s image and influence across the globe.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two students from the Physics Department of NSU passed the selection and presented their research in Moscow – at the International School on Quantum Technologies ISQT

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The International School of Quantum Technologies ISQT was held in Moscow, bringing together 30 of the best students from all over Russia. Among the participants were Ksenia Kozlenko and Ekaterina Kozlova, first-year master’s students Physics Department of NSUThey passed a competitive selection and presented poster reports, presenting their own research in the field of quantum physics.

    — The selection was based on the CV, motivation letter, and recommendation letter. The scientific supervisor told me about the school. I applied and was included in the list of participants. I was very worried, but it turned out I was in vain. The atmosphere was warm and truly student-like. The poster session was not a formal defense before the committee — you could freely communicate, share experiences, ask questions, and listen to others. This was the first conference where I really wanted to stay and talk to everyone, — says Ksenia Kozlenko.

    The topic of her speech was the development of a quantum computer on neutral atoms. This architecture is currently being actively developed in the USA, but remains technically complex.

    — My task is to model logical operations in the context of quantum computing and find out whether it is possible to simplify the system without losing accuracy. After school, I understood more clearly in what direction to develop, and even found answers to some questions about work. And I also met guys who are truly inspiring — everyone was passionate about their topic and sincerely wanted to share knowledge. This impressed me the most, — Ksenia explains.

    Ekaterina Kozlova presented a study on the Hanle effect in the ground state of alkali metal atoms and its application in quantum magnetometry.

    — Based on this effect, it is possible to develop miniature and very sensitive magnetometers. They can be used in medicine (for example, for magnetoencephalography), in geophysics, in navigation, for creating magnetic maps, in space and fundamental science. That is, this is not just “theory for the sake of theory”, but a completely practical direction, and I am glad that I was able to present it at such a level, — explains Ekaterina.

    One of the most memorable moments for her was a visit to the RCC laboratory, where they work with SQUIDs – superconducting quantum interference sensors.

    — These sensors are the main competitors of optically pumped magnetometers, which we make in our lab. It was useful to compare approaches and equipment. We even held a SQUID in our hands and saw how it works — this gave me even more understanding of my topic, — Ekaterina shares.

    The students call the poster presentation format particularly valuable.

    “It’s like a regular report, only in a live format – communication takes place right next to the poster, you can immediately discuss the nuances, argue, get feedback, and you can also go and see what others are doing and get inspired,” says Ekaterina.

    Now the girls continue to work on their research and are preparing to present new results at the upcoming conference – “Nevskaya Photonics”.

    Congratulations to the girls and we wish them success!

    Material prepared by: Yulia Dankova, NSU press service

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Dassault Systèmes: Q2 well aligned with objectives; Reaffirming 2025 growth outlook Advancing AI for software-defined industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, FranceJuly 24, 2025

    Dassault Systèmes: Q2 well aligned with objectives; Reaffirming 2025 growth outlook

    Advancing AI for software-defined industries

    Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) today reports its IFRS unaudited estimated financial results for the second quarter 2025 and first half ended June 30, 2025. The Group’s Board of Directors approved these estimated results on July 23, 2025. This press release also includes financial information on a non-IFRS basis and reconciliations with IFRS figures in the Appendix.

    Summary Highlights1  

    (unaudited, IFRS and non-IFRS unless otherwise noted,
    all growth rates in constant currencies)

    • 2Q25: Total revenue of €1.52 billion, up 6%, well aligned with objectives;
    • 2Q25: Software revenue up 6%, driven by subscription revenue up 10%;
    • 2Q25: 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue up 20% with good dynamics across industries;
    • 2Q25: Operating margin of 29.3% and diluted EPS non-IFRS up 4% to €0.30;
    • For the first six months, recurring revenue up 7% driven by subscription growth of 13%;
    • FY25: Reaffirming non-IFRS full-year objectives with total revenue growth of 6% to 8% and diluted EPS growth of 7% to 10%.

    Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Executive Officer Commentary

    Pascal Daloz, Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Executive Officer, commented:

    “The first half of the year reaffirmed the strength of our core Manufacturing sector, with resilient performance in Transportation & Mobility and strong growth in High-Tech. Aerospace & Defense also had an excellent start, with notable engagement at the Paris Air Show, underscoring our leadership in these strategic areas. In Life Sciences, our PLM solutions are playing more and more a critical role in driving the evolution toward smarter manufacturing and agile supply chains.

    As we look to the future, Dassault Systèmes is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the increasingly complex and dynamic global landscape. Our focus on high-growth segments, particularly Space, Defense, Energy, and AI-driven cloud infrastructure, places us at the core of sovereignty and security challenges.

    With the introduction of 3D UNIV+RSES, presented at our Capital Markets Day, we are entering new high-value territories such as regulatory and compliance management. AI will be a key enabler in these areas, and early customer feedback has been exceptionally promising. With AI for software-defined industries, we are confident that our continued innovation will unlock new levels of value for our clients, reinforcing our role as a trusted partner in their transformation journeys.”

    Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Financial Officer Commentary

    (revenue and diluted EPS (“EPS”) growth rates in constant currencies,
    data on a non-IFRS basis)

    Rouven Bergmann, Dassault Systèmes’ Chief Financial Officer, commented:

    “In Q2, both total and software revenues grew by 6%, in line with our objectives. Year-to-date, we’ve seen a 5% increase in growth, with subscription rising 13%. Our performance across the Manufacturing sector has been resilient, particularly driven by the continued strength of SIMULIA, ENOVIA, and CATIA.

    On the operational front, we remain committed to strategic investments aimed at capturing long-term value, while protecting EPS. The acquisition of Ascon is a key step in accelerating the shift to software-defined manufacturing.

    Looking ahead, we maintain our outlook for full-year revenue growth between 6-8%, with EPS growth expected to range from 7-10%. Additionally, we’ve updated our currency assumptions for the second half of the year.”

    Financial Summary

    In millions of Euros,
    except per share data and percentages
      IFRS   IFRS
      Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Change Change in constant currencies   YTD 2025 YTD 2024 Change Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue   1,521.6 1,495.8 2% 5%   3,094.6 2,995.4 3% 4%
    Software Revenue   1,372.7 1,346.5 2% 6%   2,805.4 2,699.4 4% 5%
    Operating Margin   15.9% 18.4% (2.6)pts     17.6% 20.0% (2.4)pts  
    Diluted EPS   0.17 0.21 (19)%     0.37 0.42 (14)%  
    In millions of Euros,
    except per share data and percentages
      Non-IFRS   Non-IFRS
      Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Change Change in constant currencies   YTD 2025 YTD 2024 Change Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue   1,523.2 1,495.8 2% 6%   3,096.2 2,995.4 3% 5%
    Software Revenue   1,374.2 1,346.5 2% 6%   2,807.0 2,699.4 4% 5%
    Operating Margin   29.3% 29.9% (0.7)pts     30.1% 30.5% (0.4)pts  
    Diluted EPS   0.30 0.30 (1)% 4%   0.61 0.60 2% 5%

    Second Quarter 2025 Versus 2024 Financial Comparisons

    (unaudited, IFRS and non-IFRS unless otherwise noted,
    all revenue growth rates in constant currencies)

    • Total Revenue: Total revenue in the second quarter grew 5% in IFRS and 6% in non-IFRS, to €1.52 billion, and software revenue increased by 6% to €1.37 billion. Subscription & support revenue rose 6%; recurring revenue represented 80% of software revenue. Licenses and other software revenue rose 5% to €276 million. Services revenue increased 3% to €149 million, during the quarter.
    • Software Revenue by Geography: The Americas revenue increased by 2% to represent 37% of software revenue, with High-Tech and Industrial Equipment performing well. Europe grew by 10% to 39% of software revenue, reflecting an acceleration led by France and Southern Europe. In Asia, revenue rose 6% with strong double-digit growth in China. Asia represented 24% of software revenue at the end of the second quarter.
    • Software Revenue by Product Line:
      • Industrial Innovation software revenue rose 9% to €745 million. SIMULIA, CATIA and ENOVIA were the best contributors to growth. Industrial Innovation software represented 54% of software revenue, during the period.
      • Life Sciences software revenue was flat at €268 million, to account for 20% of software revenue.
      • Mainstream Innovation software revenue increased by 3% to €360 million in IFRS, and was up 4% to €361 million in non-IFRS, represented 26% of software revenue. SOLIDWORKS had a strong subscription growth, advancing its business model shift.
    • Software Revenue by Industry: Industrial Equipment, High Tech, Transportation & Mobility and Aerospace & Defense were the best contributors to growth this quarter. In Life Sciences, Dassault Systèmes’ PLM solutions are playing more and more a critical role in driving the evolution toward smarter manufacturing and agile supply chains. In fact, outside of the MEDIDATA product line, Life Sciences revenue grew mid-teens.
    • Key Strategic Drivers: 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue increased 20% and represented 41% of 3DEXPERIENCE Eligible software revenue. Cloud software revenue grew 6% in non-IFRS, representing 25% of software revenue during the period. 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud software revenue increased 15% in constant currencies.
    • Operating Income and Margin: IFRS operating income decreased 12%, to €242 million, as reported. Non-IFRS operating income decreased 0.4% at €446 million, as reported. The IFRS operating margin stood at 15.9% compared to 18.4% in the second quarter of 2024, mainly reflecting the effect of the employee shareholding plan “TOGETHER 2025” offered during the quarter. The non-IFRS operating margin totaled 29.3%, versus 29.9% in the same period of last year, with a negative currency impact of 50 basis points.
    • Earnings per Share: IFRS diluted EPS was €0.17, decreasing 19% as reported. Non-IFRS diluted EPS grew to €0.30, down 1% as reported, up 4% in constant currencies.

    First Half 2025 Versus 2024 Financial Comparisons

    (unaudited, IFRS and non-IFRS unless otherwise noted,
    all revenue growth rates in constant currencies)

    • Total Revenue: Total revenue grew 4% to €3.09 billion in IFRS, and was up 5% to €3.10 billion in non-IFRS. Software revenue increased 5% to €2.81 billion. Subscription and support revenue rose 7% to €2.33 billion; recurring revenue represented 83% of total software revenue. Licenses and other software revenue decreased 2% to €474 million. Services revenue was down 2% to €289 million.
    • Software Revenue by Geography: The Americas, Europe and Asia all grew 5%, representing respectively 40%, 37% and 23% of software revenue.
    • Software Revenue by Product Line:
      • Industrial Innovation software revenue rose 8% to €1.54 billion and represented 55% of software revenue. CATIA, SIMULIA and ENOVIA were among the strongest contributors to growth.
      • Life Sciences software revenue was flat to €561 million, representing 20% of software revenue.
      • Mainstream Innovation software revenue increased by 3% to €707 million in IFRS and to €708 million in non-IFRS. Mainstream Innovation represented 25% of software revenue.
    • Software Revenue by Industry: Aerospace & Defense, High Tech, Industrial Equipment and Transport & Mobility were among the strongest contributors to growth. In Life Sciences, Dassault Systèmes’ PLM solutions are playing more and more a critical role in driving the evolution toward smarter manufacturing and agile supply chains. In fact, outside of the MEDIDATA product line, Life Sciences revenue grew mid-teens.
    • Key Strategic Drivers: 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue increased by 19%, representing 40% of 3DEXPERIENCE Eligible software revenue. Cloud software revenue grew 7% in non-IFRS, and represented 25% of software revenue. 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud software revenue increased 26% in constant currencies.
    • Operating Income and Margin: IFRS operating income was down 9%, to €546 million, as reported. Non-IFRS operating income increased 2% to €932 million, as reported. IFRS operating margin totaled 17.6% compared to 20% for the same period in 2024, mainly reflecting the combined effect of the employee shareholding plan “TOGETHER 2025” and higher share-based compensation related social charges, notably in France, where the rate rose from 20% to 30% in the first half of 2025. Non-IFRS operating margin stood at 30.1% in the first half of 2025, compared to 30.5% in the same period last year, impacted by negative currency effect of 30 basis points.
    • Earnings per Share: IFRS diluted EPS was €0.37, a decrease of 14% as reported. Non-IFRS diluted EPS grew by 2% to €0.61, as reported, or 5% in constant currencies.
    • Cash Flow from Operations (IFRS): Cash flow from operations totaled €1.15 billion for the first six months of 2025, compared to €1.13 billion last year. Cash flow from operations was principally used for the acquisition of ContentServ for €202 million, repurchase of Treasury Shares for €225 million and dividend payments for €343 million.
    • Balance Sheet (IFRS): Dassault Systèmes’ net financial position totaled €1.51 billion as of June 30, 2025, an increase of €0.05 billion, compared to €1.46 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents totaled €4.08 billion in the first half.

    Financial Objectives for 2025

    Dassault Systèmes’ third quarter and 2025 financial objectives presented below are given on a non-IFRS basis and reflect the principal 2025 currency exchange rate assumptions for the US dollar and Japanese yen as well as the potential impact from additional non-Euro currencies:

               
          Q3 2025 FY 2025  
      Total Revenue (billion) €1.485 – €1.535 €6.410 – €6.510  
      Growth 1 – 5% 3 – 5%  
      Growth ex FX 5 – 8% 6 – 8%  
               
      Software revenue growth * 5 – 9% 6 – 8%  
        Of which licenses and other software revenue growth * 7 – 14% 4 – 7%  
        Of which recurring revenue growth * 5 – 8% 7 – 8%  
      Services revenue growth *

    1 – 5%

    1 – 3%  
               
      Operating Margin 29.7% – 29.9% 32.2% – 32.4%  
               
      EPS Diluted €0.29 – €0.30 €1.32 – €1.35  
      Growth 0 – 4% 3 – 6%  
      Growth ex FX 5 – 9% 7 – 10%  
               
      US dollar $1.17 per Euro $1.13 per Euro  
      Japanese yen (before hedging) JPY 170.0 per Euro JPY 166.1 per Euro  
      * Growth in Constant Currencies      

    These objectives are prepared and communicated only on a non-IFRS basis and are subject to the cautionary statement set forth below.

    The 2025 non-IFRS financial objectives set forth above do not take into account the following accounting elements below and are estimated based upon the 2025 principal currency exchange rates above: contract liabilities write-downs estimated at approximately €4 million; share-based compensation expenses, including related social charges, estimated at approximately €324 million (these estimates do not include any new stock option or share grants issued after June 30, 2025); amortization of acquired intangibles and of tangibles reevaluation, estimated at approximately €336 million, largely impacted by the acquisition of MEDIDATA; and lease incentives of acquired companies at approximately €1 million.

    The above objectives also do not include any impact from other operating income and expenses, net principally comprised of acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; from one-time items included in financial revenue; from one-time tax effects; and from the income tax effects of these non-IFRS adjustments. Finally, these estimates do not include any new acquisitions or restructuring completed after June 30, 2025.

    Corporate Announcements

    Today’s Webcast and Conference Call Information

    Today, Thursday, July 24, 2025, Dassault Systèmes will host in Paris a webcasted presentation at 9:00 AM London Time / 10:00 AM Paris time, and will then host a conference call at 8:30 AM New York time / 1:30 PM London time / 2:30 PM Paris time. The webcasted presentation and conference calls will be available online by accessing investor.3ds.com.

    Additional investor information is available at investor.3ds.com or by calling Dassault Systèmes’ Investor Relations at +33.1.61.62.69.24.

    Investor Relations Events

    • Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Release: October 23, 2025
    • Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Release: February 11, 2026
    • First Quarter 2026 Earnings Release: April 23, 2026
    • Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Release: July 23, 2026

    Forward-looking Information

    Statements herein that are not historical facts but express expectations or objectives for the future, including but not limited to statements regarding the Group’s non-IFRS financial performance objectives are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on Dassault Systèmes management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or performances may differ materially from those in such statements due to a range of factors.

    The Group’s actual results or performance may be materially negatively affected by numerous risks and uncertainties, as described in the “Risk Factors” section 1.9 of the 2024 Universal Registration Document (‘Document d’enregistrement universel’) filed with the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) on March 18, 2025, available on the Group’s website www.3ds.com.

    In particular, please refer to the risk factor “Uncertain Global Environment” in section 1.9.1.1 of the 2024 Universal Registration Document set out below for ease of reference:

    “In light of the uncertainties regarding economic, business, social, health and geopolitical conditions at the global level, Dassault Systèmes’ revenue, net earnings and cash flows may grow more slowly, whether on an annual or quarterly basis, mainly due to the following factors:

    • the deployment of Dassault Systèmes’ solutions may represent a large portion of a customer’s investments in software technology. Decisions to make such an investment are impacted by the economic environment in which the customers operate. Uncertain global geopolitical, economic and health conditions and the lack of visibility or the lack of financial resources may cause some customers, e.g. within the automotive, aerospace, energy or natural resources industries, to reduce, postpone or cancel their investments, or to reduce or not renew ongoing paid maintenance for their installed base, which impact larger customers’ revenue with their respective sub-contractors;
    • the political, economic and monetary situation in certain geographic regions where Dassault Systèmes operates could become more volatile and negatively affect Dassault Systèmes’ business, and in particular its revenue, for example, due to stricter export compliance rules or the introduction of new customs barriers or controls on the exchange of goods and services;
    • continued pressure or volatility on raw materials and energy prices could also slow down Dassault Systèmes’ diversification efforts in new industries;
    • uncertainties regarding the extent and duration of costs inflation could adversely affect the financial position of Dassault Systèmes; and
    • the sales cycle of the Dassault Systèmes’ products – already relatively long due to the strategic nature of such investments for customers – could further lengthen.

    The occurrence of crises – health and political crises in particular – could have consequences both for the health and safety of Dassault Systèmes’ employees and for the Company. It could also adversely impact the financial situation or financing and supply capabilities of Dassault Systèmes’ existing and potential customers, commercial and technology partners, some of whom may be forced to temporarily close sites or to cease operations. A deteriorating economic environment could generate increased price pressure and affect the collection of receivables, which would negatively affect Dassault Systèmes’ revenue, financial performance and market position.

    Dassault Systèmes makes every effort to take into consideration this uncertain outlook. Dassault Systèmes’ business results, however, may not develop as anticipated. Furthermore, due to factors affecting sales of Dassault Systèmes’ products and services, there may be a substantial time lag between an improvement in global economic and business conditions and an upswing in the Company’s business results.”

    In preparing such forward-looking statements, the Group has in particular assumed an average US dollar to euro exchange rate of US$1.17 per €1.00 as well as an average Japanese yen to euro exchange rate of JPY170.0 to €1.00, before hedging for the third quarter 2025. The Group has assumed an average US dollar to euro exchange rate of US$1.13 per €1.00 as well as an average Japanese yen to euro exchange rate of JPY166.1 to €1.00, before hedging for the full year 2025. However, currency values fluctuate, and the Group’s results may be significantly affected by changes in exchange rates.

    Non-IFRS Financial Information

    Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-IFRS financial information presented in this press release is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for IFRS measurements. The supplemental non-IFRS financial information should be read only in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. Furthermore, the Group’s supplemental non-IFRS financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled “non-IFRS” measures used by other companies. Specific limitations for individual non-IFRS measures are set forth in the Company’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on March 18, 2025.

    In the tables accompanying this press release the Group sets forth its supplemental non-IFRS figures for revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income and diluted earnings per share, which exclude the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ deferred revenue, share-based compensation expense and related social charges, the amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangibles reevaluation, certain other operating income and expense, net, including impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles, the effect of adjusting lease incentives of acquired companies, certain one-time items included in financial revenue and other, net, and the income tax effect of the non-IFRS adjustments and certain one-time tax effects. The tables also set forth the most comparable IFRS financial measure and reconciliations of this information with non-IFRS information.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com

    ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370 000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact.
    For more information, visit www.3ds.com.

    Dassault Systèmes Investor Relations Team                FTI Consulting

    Beatrix Martinez: +33 1 61 62 40 73                        Arnaud de Cheffontaines: +33 1 47 03 69 48

                                                            Jamie Ricketts : +44 20 3727 1600

    investors@3ds.com

    Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts

    Corporate / France        Arnaud MALHERBE        arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com        +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

    © Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval.

    APPENDIX TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.    

    Glossary of Definitions

    Non-IFRS Financial Information

    Acquisitions and Foreign Exchange Impact

    Condensed consolidated statements of income

    Condensed consolidated balance sheet

    Condensed consolidated cash flow statement

    IFRS – non-IFRS reconciliation

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES – Glossary of Definitions

    Information in Constant Currencies

    Dassault Systèmes has followed a long-standing policy of measuring its revenue performance and setting its revenue objectives exclusive of currency in order to measure in a transparent manner the underlying level of improvement in its total revenue and software revenue by activity, industry, geography and product lines. The Group believes it is helpful to evaluate its growth exclusive of currency impacts, particularly to help understand revenue trends in its business. Therefore, the Group provides percentage increases or decreases in its revenue and expenses (in both IFRS and non-IFRS) to eliminate the effect of changes in currency values, particularly the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, relative to the euro. When trend information is expressed “in constant currencies”, the results of the “prior” period have first been recalculated using the average exchange rates of the comparable period in the current year, and then compared with the results of the comparable period in the current year.

    While constant currency calculations are not considered to be an IFRS measure, the Group believes these measures are critical to understanding its global revenue results and to compare with many of its competitors who report their financial results in U.S. dollars. Therefore, Dassault Systèmes includes this calculation to compare IFRS and non-IFRS revenue figures for comparable periods. All information at constant currencies is expressed as a rounded percentage and therefore may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

    Information on Growth excluding acquisitions (“organic growth”)

    In addition to financial indicators relating to the Group’s entire scope, Dassault Systèmes also provides growth information excluding acquisitions’ effects, and named organic growth. To do so, the Group’s data is restated to exclude acquisitions, from the date of the transaction, over a period of 12 months.

    Information on Industrial Sectors

    Dassault Systèmes provides broad end-to-end software solutions and services: its 3D UNIV+RSES (made of multiple virtual twin experiences) powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform combine modeling, simulation, data science, artificial intelligence and collaborative innovation to support companies in the three sectors it serves, namely Manufacturing Industries, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and Infrastructure & Cities.

    These three sectors comprise twelve industries:

    • Manufacturing Industries: Transportation & Mobility; Aerospace & Defense; Marine & Offshore; Industrial Equipment; High-Tech; Home & Lifestyle; Consumer Packaged Goods – Retail. In Manufacturing Industries, Dassault Systèmes helps customers virtualize their operations, improve data sharing and collaboration across their organization, reduce costs and time-to-market, and become more sustainable;
    • Life Sciences & Healthcare: Life Sciences & Healthcare. In this sector, the Group aims to address the entire cycle of the patient journey to lead the way toward precision medicine. To reach the broader healthcare ecosystem from research to commercial, the Group’s solutions connect all elements from molecule development to prevention to care, and combine new therapeutics, medical practices, and Medtech;
    • Infrastructure & Cities: Infrastructure, Energy & Materials; Architecture, Engineering & Construction; Business Services; Cities & Public Services. In Infrastructure & Cities, the Group supports the virtualization of the sector in making its industries more efficient and sustainable, and creating desirable living environments.

    Information on Product Lines

    The Group’s financial reporting on product lines includes the following information:

    • Industrial Innovation software revenue, which includes CATIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, DELMIA, GEOVIA, NETVIBES, and 3DEXCITE brands;
    • Life Sciences software revenue, which includes MEDIDATA and BIOVIA brands;
    • Mainstream Innovation software revenue, which includes its CENTRIC PLM and 3DVIA brands, as well as the SOLIDWORKS brand and its expanded offerings in design, simulation, PLM, and manufacturing.

    OUTSCALE has been a Dassault Systèmes brand since 2022, extending the portfolio of software applications. As the first sovereign and sustainable operator on the cloud, OUTSCALE enables governments and corporations from all sectors to achieve digital autonomy through a Cloud experience and with a world-class cyber governance.

    GEOs

    Eleven GEOs are responsible for driving the development of the Company’s business and implementing its customer‑centric engagement model. Teams leverage strong networks of local customers, users, partners, and influencers.

    These GEOs are structured into three groups:

    • the “Americas” group, made of two GEOs;
    • the “Europe” group, comprising Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and made of four GEOs;
    • the “Asia” group, comprising Asia and Oceania and made of five GEOs.

    3DEXPERIENCE Software Contribution

    To measure the relative share of 3DEXPERIENCE software in its revenues, Dassault Systèmes calculates the percentage contribution by comparing total 3DEXPERIENCE software revenue to software revenue for all product lines except SOLIDWORKS, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM and other acquisitions (defined as “3DEXPERIENCE Eligible software revenue”).

    Cloud revenue

    Cloud revenue is generated from contracts that provide access to cloud-based solutions (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), cloud solution development and cloud managed services. These offerings are delivered by Dassault Systèmes through its own cloud infrastructure or by third-party cloud providers. They are available through different deployment methods: Dedicated cloud, Sovereign cloud and International cloud. Cloud solutions are generally offered through subscription-based models or perpetual licenses with support and hosting services.

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data, percentages, headcount and exchange rates)

    Non-IFRS key figures exclude the effects of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ contract liabilities (deferred revenue), share-based compensation expense, including related social charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation, lease incentives of acquired companies, other operating income and expense, net, including the acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets, certain one-time items included in financial loss, net, certain one-time tax effects and the income tax effects of these non-IFRS adjustments.

    Comparable IFRS financial information and a reconciliation of the IFRS and non-IFRS measures are set forth in the separate tables within this Attachment.

    In millions of Euros, except per share data, percentages, headcount and exchange rates Non-IFRS reported
    Three months ended Six months ended
    June 30,

    2025

    June 30,

    2024

    Change Change in constant currencies June 30,

    2025

    June 30,

    2024

    Change Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue € 1,523.2 € 1,495.8 2% 6% € 3,096.2 € 2,995.4 3% 5%
                     
    Revenue breakdown by activity                
    Software revenue 1,374.2 1,346.5 2% 6% 2,807.0 2,699.4 4% 5%
    Of which licenses and other software revenue 275.6 271.8 1% 5% 473.7 490.3 (3)% (2)%
    Of which subscription and support revenue 1,098.6 1,074.8 2% 6% 2,333.2 2,209.1 6% 7%
    Services revenue 148.9 149.2 (0)% 3% 289.2 296.1 (2)% (2)%
                     
    Software revenue breakdown by product line                
    Industrial Innovation 744.6 701.9 6% 9% 1,537.7 1,433.2 7% 8%
    Life Sciences 268.3 281.7 (5)% 0% 560.9 566.4 (1)% 0%
    Mainstream Innovation 361.3 363.0 (0)% 4% 708.3 699.7 1% 3%
                     
    Software Revenue breakdown by geography                
    Americas 505.0 525.5 (4)% 2% 1,116.2 1,079.1 3% 5%
    Europe 534.8 491.9 9% 10% 1,048.0 995.1 5% 5%
    Asia 334.4 329.1 2% 6% 642.8 625.2 3% 5%
                     
    Operating income € 446.1 € 447.8 (0)%   € 932.2 € 914.3 2%  
    Operating margin 29.3% 29.9%     30.1% 30.5%    
                     
    Net income attributable to shareholders € 391.0 € 397.1 (2)%   € 811.2 € 794.3 2%  
    Diluted earnings per share € 0.30 € 0.30 (1)% 4% € 0.61 € 0.60 2% 5%
                     
    Closing headcount 26,253 25,811 2%   26,253 25,811 2%  
                     
    Average Rate USD per Euro 1.13 1.08 5%   1.09 1.08 1%  
    Average Rate JPY per Euro 163.81 167.77 (2)%   162.12 164.46 (1)%  

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    ACQUISITIONS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPACT

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros Non-IFRS reported o/w growth at constant rate and scope o/w change of scope impact at current year rate o/w FX impact on previous year figures
    June 30,

    2025

    June 30,

    2024

    Change
    Revenue QTD 1,523.2 1,495.8 27.4 72.6 7.5 (52.7)
    Revenue YTD 3,096.2 2,995.4 100.7 125.9 7.7 (32.9)

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages)

    In millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages IFRS reported
    Three months ended Six months ended
    June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
    2025 2024 2025 2024
    Licenses and other software revenue 275.6 271.8 473.7 490.3
    Subscription and Support revenue 1,097.1 1,074.8 2,331.7 2,209.1
    Software revenue 1,372.7 1,346.5 2,805.4 2,699.4
    Services revenue 148.9 149.2 289.2 296.1
    Total Revenue € 1,521.6 € 1,495.8 € 3,094.6 € 2,995.4
    Cost of software revenue (1) (120.1) (124.8) (249.3) (236.8)
    Cost of services revenue (144.6) (127.9) (275.7) (259.8)
    Research and development expenses (348.7) (326.1) (697.3) (637.5)
    Marketing and sales expenses (448.0) (423.8) (894.5) (844.1)
    General and administrative expenses (123.7) (111.6) (244.2) (216.7)
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation (85.4) (92.3) (173.8) (185.6)
    Other operating income and expense, net (9.3) (13.2) (13.7) (15.0)
    Total Operating Expenses (1,279.9) (1,219.8) (2,548.4) (2,395.4)
    Operating Income € 241.7 € 276.0 € 546.1 € 600.0
    Financial income (loss), net 29.9 33.3 60.2 63.4
    Income before income taxes € 271.5 € 309.2 € 606.3 € 663.5
    Income tax expense (53.0) (47.7) (128.4) (116.0)
    Net Income € 218.6 € 261.5 € 477.9 € 547.5
    Non-controlling interest 4.9 1.2 6.1 1.0
    Net Income attributable to equity holders of the parent € 223.5 € 262.7 € 484.0 € 548.4
    Basic earnings per share 0.17 0.20 0.37 0.42
    Diluted earnings per share € 0.17 € 0.21 € 0.37 € 0.42
    Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in millions) 1,315.9 1,313.2 1,314.9 1,313.7
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in millions) 1,324.4 1,326.2 1,325.7 1,328.7

            (1) Excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation.

    IFRS reported

     

    Three months ended June 30, 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2025
    Change (2) Change in constant currencies Change (2) Change in constant currencies
    Total Revenue 2% 5% 3% 4%
    Revenue by activity        
    Software revenue 2% 6% 4% 5%
    Services revenue (0)% 3% (2)% (2)%
    Software Revenue by product line        
    Industrial Innovation 6% 9% 7% 8%
    Life Sciences (5)% 0% (1)% 0%
    Mainstream Innovation (1)% 3% 1% 3%
    Software Revenue by geography        
    Americas (4)% 2% 3% 5%
    Europe 8% 10% 5% 5%
    Asia 2% 6% 3% 5%

                    (2) Variation compared to the same period in the prior year.

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros IFRS reported
    June 30, December 31,
    2025 2024
    ASSETS    
    Cash and cash equivalents 4,083.7 3,952.6
    Trade accounts receivable, net 1,575.9 2,120.9
    Contract assets 40.1 30.1
    Other current assets 406.2 464.0
    Total current assets 6,105.9 6,567.6
    Property and equipment, net 903.5 945.8
    Goodwill and Intangible assets, net 7,030.3 7,687.1
    Other non-current assets 375.7 345.5
    Total non-current assets 8,309.4 8,978.3
    Total Assets € 14,415.3 € 15,545.9
    LIABILITIES    
    Trade accounts payable 183.2 259.9
    Contract liabilities 1,559.3 1,663.4
    Borrowings, current 534.0 450.8
    Other current liabilities 1,063.0 1,147.4
    Total current liabilities 3,339.5 3,521.5
    Borrowings, non-current 2,043.9 2,042.8
    Other non-current liabilities 836.0 900.9
    Total non-current liabilities 2,879.9 2,943.7
    Non-controlling interests 11.5 14.1
    Parent shareholders’ equity 8,184.3 9,066.6
    Total Liabilities € 14,415.3 € 15,545.9

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

    (unaudited; in millions of Euros)

    In millions of Euros IFRS reported
    Three months ended Six months ended
    June 30, June 30, Change June 30, June 30, Change
    2025 2024 2025 2024
    Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent 223.5 262.7 (39.3) 484.0 548.4 (64.4)
    Non-controlling interest (4.9) (1.2) (3.7) (6.1) (1.0) (5.1)
    Net income 218.6 261.5 (42.9) 477.9 547.5 (69.5)
    Depreciation of property and equipment 48.5 45.1 3.4 98.9 92.7 6.2
    Amortization of intangible assets 86.2 94.2 (8.0) 175.9 189.4 (13.5)
    Adjustments for other non-cash items 20.5 36.6 (16.1) 36.6 74.3 (37.7)
    Changes in working capital (39.4) 21.9 (61.3) 358.0 226.3 131.7
    Net Cash From Operating Activities € 334.3 € 459.3 € ( 124.9) € 1,147.3 € 1,130.2 € 17.2
                 
    Additions to property, equipment and intangibles assets (39.3) (50.6) 11.3 (95.3) (107.8) 12.5
    Payment for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (9.2) (11.2) 2.0 (202.9) (15.7) (187.2)
    Other 3.2 0.8 2.3 (34.6) 23.1 (57.7)
    Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities € (45.3) € (61.0) € 15.6 € (332.8) € (100.4) € (232.4)
                 
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options 7.4 13.9 (6.5) 29.6 35.2 (5.7)
    Cash dividends paid (342.6) (302.7) (39.9) (342.6) (302.7) (39.9)
    Repurchase and sale of treasury stock (144.7) (176.6) 31.8 (224.8) (307.7) 82.9
    Capital increase 111.3 111.3 111.3 111.3
    Acquisition of non-controlling interests 0.0 (0.0) 0.0 (0.2) (2.6) 2.5
    Proceeds from borrowings 121.3 121.3 81.0 81.0
    Repayment of borrowings (0.1) 0.1 (18.5) (0.2) (18.4)
    Repayment of lease liabilities (22.7) (18.3) (4.4) (45.4) (42.3) (3.0)
    Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities € (270.0) € (483.7) € 213.7 € (409.5) € (620.2) € 210.7
                 
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (178.1) 21.0 (199.1) (273.9) 53.6 (327.5)
                 
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents € (159.1) € (64.4) € (94.7) € 131.2 € 463.2 € (332.1)
                 
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period € 4,242.9 € 4,095.9   € 3,952.6 € 3,568.3  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period € 4,083.7 € 4,031.5   € 4,083.7 € 4,031.5  

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES
    SUPPLEMENTAL NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    IFRS – NON-IFRS RECONCILIATION
    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages)

    Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-IFRS information presented in this press release is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered as a substitute for IFRS measurements. Also, the Group’s supplemental non-IFRS financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled “non-IFRS” measures used by other companies. Further specific limitations for individual non-IFRS measures, and the reasons for presenting non-IFRS financial information, are set forth in the Group’s Document d’Enregistrement Universel for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the AMF on March 18, 2025. To compensate for these limitations, the supplemental non-IFRS financial information should be read not in isolation, but only in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.

    In millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages Three months ended June 30, Change
    2025 Adjustment(1) 2025 2024 Adjustment(1) 2024 IFRS Non-IFRS(2)
    IFRS Non-IFRS IFRS Non-IFRS
    Total Revenue € 1,521.6 € 1.6 € 1,523.2 € 1,495.8 € 1,495.8 2% 2%
    Revenue breakdown by activity                
    Software revenue 1,372.7 1.6 1,374.2 1,346.5 1,346.5 2% 2%
    Licenses and other software revenue 275.6 275.6 271.8 271.8 1% 1%
    Subscription and Support revenue 1,097.1 1.6 1,098.6 1,074.8 1,074.8 2% 2%
    Recurring portion of Software revenue 80%   80% 80%   80%    
    Services revenue 148.9 148.9 149.2 149.2 (0)% (0)%
    Software Revenue breakdown by product line                
    Industrial Innovation 744.6 744.6 701.9 701.9 6% 6%
    Life Sciences 268.3 268.3 281.7 281.7 (5)% (5)%
    Mainstream Innovation 359.7 1.6 361.3 363.0 363.0 (1)% (0)%
    Software Revenue breakdown by geography                
    Americas 505.0 505.0 525.5 525.5 (4)% (4)%
    Europe 533.4 1.4 534.8 491.9 491.9 8% 9%
    Asia 334.3 0.1 334.4 329.1 329.1 2% 2%
    Total Operating Expenses € (1,279.9) € 202.9 € (1,077.1) € (1,219.8) € 171.9 € (1,047.9) 5% 3%
    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges (107.7) 107.7 (65.8) 65.8    
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation (85.4) 85.4 (92.3) 92.3    
    Lease incentives of acquired companies (0.4) 0.4 (0.5) 0.5    
    Other operating income and expense, net (9.3) 9.3 (13.2) 13.2    
    Operating Income € 241.7 € 204.4 € 446.1 € 276.0 € 171.9 € 447.8 (12)% (0)%
    Operating Margin 15.9%   29.3% 18.4%   29.9%    
    Financial income (loss), net 29.9 0.6 30.4 33.3 0.5 33.8 (10)% (10)%
    Income tax expense (53.0) (32.8) (85.7) (47.7) (36.4) (84.1) 11% 2%
    Non-controlling interest 4.9 (4.7) 0.3 1.2 (1.6) (0.4) 300% (167)%
    Net Income attributable to shareholders € 223.5 € 167.6 € 391.0 € 262.7 € 134.4 € 397.1 (15)% (2)%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share (3) € 0.17 € 0.13 € 0.30 € 0.21 € 0.09 € 0.30 (19)% (1)%

    (1) In the reconciliation schedule above, (i) all adjustments to IFRS revenue data reflect the exclusion of the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ contract liabilities (deferred revenue); (ii) adjustments to IFRS operating expense data reflect the exclusion of the amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation, share-based compensation expense, including related social charges, lease incentives of acquired companies, as detailed below, and other operating income and expense, net including acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; (iii) adjustments to IFRS financial loss, net reflect the exclusion of certain one-time items included in financial loss, net, and; (iv) all adjustments to IFRS income data reflect the combined effect of these adjustments, plus with respect to net income and diluted earnings per share, certain one-time tax effects and the income tax effect of the non-IFRS adjustments.

    In millions of Euros, except percentages Three months ended June 30, Change
    2025

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2025

    Non-IFRS

    2024

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2024

    Non-IFRS

    IFRS Non-

    IFRS

    Cost of revenue (264.7) 13.9 0.1 (250.7) (252.8) 5.0 0.1 (247.6) 5% 1%
    Research and development expenses (348.7) 28.9 0.1 (319.7) (326.1) 20.4 0.2 (305.5) 7% 5%
    Marketing and sales expenses (448.0) 39.7 0.1 (408.2) (423.8) 23.2 0.1 (400.5) 6% 2%
    General and administrative expenses (123.7) 25.2 0.0 (98.5) (111.6) 17.2 0.0 (94.3) 11% 4%
    Total   € 107.7 € 0.4     € 65.8 € 0.5      

    (2) The non-IFRS percentage increase (decrease) compares non-IFRS measures for the two different periods. In the event there is non-IFRS adjustment to the relevant measure for only one of the periods under comparison, the non-IFRS increase (decrease) compares the non-IFRS measure to the relevant IFRS measure.
    (3) Based on a weighted average 1,324.4 million diluted shares for Q2 2025 and 1,326.2 million diluted shares for Q2 2024, and, for IFRS only, a diluted net income attributable to the sharehorlders of € 223.5 million for Q2 2025 (€ 276.7 million for Q2 2024). The Diluted net income attributable to equity holders of the Group corresponds to the Net Income attributable to equity holders of the Group adjusted by the impact of the share-based compensation plans to be settled either in cash or in shares at the option of the Group.

    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES
    SUPPLEMENTAL NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    IFRS – NON-IFRS RECONCILIATION
    (unaudited; in millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages)

    Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-IFRS information presented in this press release is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered as a substitute for IFRS measurements. Also, the Group’s supplemental non-IFRS financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled “non-IFRS” measures used by other companies. Further specific limitations for individual non-IFRS measures, and the reasons for presenting non-IFRS financial information, are set forth in the Group’s Document d’Enregistrement Universel for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the AMF on March 18, 2025. To compensate for these limitations, the supplemental non-IFRS financial information should be read not in isolation, but only in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.

    In millions of Euros, except per share data and percentages Six months ended June 30, Change
    2025 Adjustment(1) 2025 2024 Adjustment(1) 2024 IFRS Non-IFRS(2)
    IFRS Non-IFRS IFRS Non-IFRS
    Total Revenue € 3,094.6 € 1.6 € 3,096.2 € 2,995.4 € 2,995.4 3% 3%
    Revenue breakdown by activity                
    Software revenue 2,805.4 1.6 2,807.0 2,699.4 2,699.4 4% 4%
    Licenses and other software revenue 473.7 473.7 490.3 490.3 (3)% (3)%
    Subscription and Support revenue 2,331.7 1.6 2,333.2 2,209.1 2,209.1 6% 6%
    Recurring portion of Software revenue 83%   83% 82%   82%    
    Services revenue 289.2 289.2 296.1 296.1 (2)% (2)%
    Software Revenue breakdown by product line                
    Industrial Innovation 1,537.7 1,537.7 1,433.2 1,433.2 7% 7%
    Life Sciences 560.9 560.9 566.4 566.4 (1)% (1)%
    Mainstream Innovation 706.8 1.6 708.3 699.7 699.7 1% 1%
    Software Revenue breakdown by geography                
    Americas 1,116.1 0.1 1,116.2 1,079.1 1,079.1 3% 3%
    Europe 1,046.6 1.4 1,048.0 995.1 995.1 5% 5%
    Asia 642.7 0.1 642.8 625.2 625.2 3% 3%
    Total Operating Expenses € (2,548.4) € 384.4 € (2,164.0) € (2,395.4) € 314.3 € (2,081.1) 6% 4%
    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges (196.2) 196.2 (112.6) 112.6    
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation (173.8) 173.8 (185.6) 185.6    
    Lease incentives of acquired companies (0.8) 0.8 (1.2) 1.2    
    Other operating income and expense, net (13.7) 13.7 (15.0) 15.0    
    Operating Income € 546.1 € 386.0 € 932.2 € 600.0 € 314.3 € 914.3 (9)% 2%
    Operating Margin 17.6%   30.1% 20.0%   30.5%    
    Financial income (loss), net 60.2 1.1 61.3 63.4 1.5 64.9 (5)% (6)%
    Income tax expense (128.4) (54.4) (182.8) (116.0) (68.0) (184.0) 11% (1)%
    Non-controlling interest 6.1 (5.6) 0.5 1.0 (1.9) (0.9) N/A (152)%
    Net Income attributable to shareholders € 484.0 € 327.2 € 811.2 € 548.4 € 245.9 € 794.3 (12)% 2%
    Diluted Earnings Per Share (3) € 0.37 € 0.25 € 0.61 € 0.42 € 0.17 € 0.60 (14)% 2%

    (1) In the reconciliation schedule above, (i) all adjustments to IFRS revenue data reflect the exclusion of the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies’ contract liabilities (deferred revenue); (ii) adjustments to IFRS operating expense data reflect the exclusion of the amortization of acquired intangible assets and of tangible assets revaluation, share-based compensation expense, including related social charges, lease incentives of acquired companies, as detailed below, and other operating income and expense, net including acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses, and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; (iii) adjustments to IFRS financial loss, net reflect the exclusion of certain one-time items included in financial loss, net, and; (iv) all adjustments to IFRS income data reflect the combined effect of these adjustments, plus with respect to net income and diluted earnings per share, certain one-time tax effects and the income tax effect of the non-IFRS adjustments.

    In millions of Euros, except percentages Six months ended June 30, Change
    2025

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2025

    Non-IFRS

    2024

    IFRS

    Share-based compensation expense and related social charges Lease incentives of acquired companies 2024

    Non-IFRS

    IFRS Non-

    IFRS

    Cost of revenue (525.0) 18.8 0.2 (505.9) (496.5) 8.0 0.3 (488.2) 6% 4%
    Research and development expenses (697.3) 61.4 0.3 (635.7) (637.5) 38.3 0.6 (598.7) 9% 6%
    Marketing and sales expenses (894.5) 64.2 0.2 (830.1) (844.1) 36.8 0.2 (807.1) 6% 3%
    General and administrative expenses (244.2) 51.8 0.1 (192.3) (216.7) 29.5 0.1 (187.1) 13% 3%
    Total   € 196.2 € 0.8     € 112.6 € 1.2      

    (2) The non-IFRS percentage increase (decrease) compares non-IFRS measures for the two different periods. In the event there is non-IFRS adjustment to the relevant measure for only one of the periods under comparison, the non-IFRS increase (decrease) compares the non-IFRS measure to the relevant IFRS measure.
    (3) Based on a weighted average 1,325.7 million diluted shares for YTD 2025 and 1,328.7 million diluted shares for YTD 2024, and, for IFRS only, a diluted net income attributable to the sharehorlders of € 484.0 million for YTD 2025 (€ 562.3 million for YTD 2024). The Diluted net income attributable to equity holders of the Group corresponds to the Net Income attributable to equity holders of the Group adjusted by the impact of the share-based compensation plans to be settled either in cash or in shares at the option of the Group.


    1 IFRS figures for 2Q25: Total revenue of €1.52 billion, up 5%, and subscription revenue up 9%; Operating margin of 15.9% and diluted EPS of €0.17; IFRS figures for YTD25: total revenue of €3.09 billion, subscription revenue up 12%; Operating margin of 17.6% and diluted EPS of €0.37.  

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia says US beef will soon be welcome here again. It’s unlikely we’ll buy much of it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law and Taxation, Queensland University of Technology

    DarcyMaulsby/Getty

    The Albanese government has today confirmed it will lift biosecurity restrictions on beef imports from the United States. The timing of this decision has raised some eyebrows.

    Back in April, US President Donald Trump had singled out what he characterised as an Australian “ban” on US beef as he announced 10% baseline tariffs on imports from Australia.

    Responding to today’s announcement, Nationals leader David Littleproud said it appeared the restrictions have been “traded away to appease Donald Trump”.

    But Trade Minister Don Farrell said there was “nothing suspicious about this”. And some Australian industry groups have since expressed their confidence in the decision.

    So, has Australia’s beef industry been sold out for the benefit of a trade deal? Or is it just a poorly timed announcement at the end of a review into Australia’s restrictions?

    Biosecurity concerns

    Australia’s biosecurity rules, particularly around beef products, have long been a source of friction with the United States. These rules date back to the late 1990s and were strengthened following a US mad cow disease scare in 2003.

    In 2019, a ban was lifted on beef products from cattle that had been born, raised and slaughtered in the US. However, a ban remained on any products from cattle originating in Mexico or Canada that had been slaughtered in the US.

    This was a cause for some tension, because the traceability requirements in the US were not as stringent as in Australia. That meant it wasn’t always possible to determine the origins of US products. So the 2019 change effectively only applied to shelf-stable products – not fresh meat.

    Last month, the Albanese government made assurances Australia’s biosecurity rules wouldn’t be compromised in trade negotiations. But it also confirmed a review of the rules was underway.

    The National Farmers’ Federation acknowledged the government’s decision in a statement today:

    The report released today is the result of a long-standing, science-based review by the Australian Government into the biosecurity risks posed by cattle raised in Canada and Mexico, but processed in and exported from the US.

    Speaking on ABC Radio, Cattle Australia chief executive Will Evans acknowledged “a lot of people” may feel “blindsided” by the government’s decision, but expressed his confidence in the government’s process.

    Boom times for Australian beef

    Australians are some of the highest per-capita consumers of beef products in the world. But Australia is also the world’s second-largest beef exporter, trailing only Brazil.

    In contrast, the US is the world’s second-largest importer of beef, behind only China.

    That poses the question: how much do we actually need beef from the US? Is it even worth lifting this ban, if it will impact so few people?

    The beef industry might be fair to question whether this is for the benefit of their industry, when it seems the existing 10% baseline tariffs have had no impact on the volumes of beef being exported from Australia. Quite the opposite.

    In June, Australia’s beef exports broke an all-time monthly record, and the US continued to be our largest export market.

    In addition, it is important to recognise the US tariffs on beef would theoretically be absorbed by the consumer, rather than the exporter.

    The trade war rages on

    Theory suggests that international trade is a good thing (though not everyone is a “winner”). Where there is trade between nations, competitive pricing is encouraged and consumers may enjoy more product variety.

    Most restrictions on trade are viewed unfavourably by economists, but there are some notable exceptions. The health and safety of food products and assurance of biosecurity standards are such concerns.

    Overnight, comments from the Trump administration suggest the 10% tariffs on imports from Australia could be raised, with a new baseline tariff rate of 15%.

    To apply these to Australian beef is in direct conflict with the Australia and United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). This agreement progressively removed tariffs on Australian beef, with all tariffs eliminated by 2023.

    Consequently, any new US tariff would violate these terms, threatening a trade relationship that has seen beef exports to the US flourish.

    Is our reputation on the line?

    It is important to note that the biosecurity rules in Australia and the traceability requirements for our producers are a point of national pride.

    Central to Australia’s biosecurity framework is the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the National Livestock Identification System, which ensures traceability, food safety, disease control and animal welfare.

    This imposes strict requirements on Australian beef producers – and as a result, imposes costs. It also means Australian beef is considered a premium product in much of the world.

    Australians should hope the evidence from the government’s review fully supports this action.

    Given the unpredictability of the Trump administration, it remains to be seen whether lifting these restrictions will win Australia any concessions on trade anyway.

    Felicity Deane does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Australia says US beef will soon be welcome here again. It’s unlikely we’ll buy much of it – https://theconversation.com/australia-says-us-beef-will-soon-be-welcome-here-again-its-unlikely-well-buy-much-of-it-261836

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty

    Two teenage boys were thrown from a jet ski during a ride on the Georges River in Sydney’s south this week. One died at the scene. The other lost an arm, and was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

    The exact cause of the crash is being investigated and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

    Sadly, this tragic incident is not isolated. While fatal jet ski crashes are relatively rare, serious injuries are not.

    Here’s what we know about jet ski accidents, who’s at risk, and how to prevent them.

    Jet skis are now more common

    Jet skis have become a familiar sight on Australian waterways, with sales peaking during the early years of the COVID pandemic. There are now almost 100,000 registered jet skis nationwide.

    So what was once a niche summer thrill has become a more mainstream recreational activity, particularly for young Australians.

    As the number of jet skis on our waterways grows, so too will the risks.

    How often do accidents happen?

    Most jet ski crashes occur in daylight hours, are twice as likely on weekends, and tend to spike during warmer months. Injuries typically happen close to shore (often within 50 metres) where crowded conditions increase the risk of colliding with other vessels, swimmers or fixed obstacles.

    Fatal jet ski accidents in Australia have claimed the lives of riders, passengers, swimmers and kayakers.

    Across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, there are up to three deaths per 100,000 licence holders. There are an estimated 19–26 serious injuries per 100,000 licence holders, depending on the state.

    But these figures likely understate the true picture as many non-fatal injuries go unreported unless hospitalised.

    For example, data from research sponsored by the United States Coast Guard suggest that for every moderate injury captured in accident reports, more than 30 actually occur. For every severe injury, it’s likely 1.65 actually occur.

    Who is at risk?

    Global jet ski statistics indicate about 85% of jet ski injuries involve male riders.

    Risk-taking behaviour and being an inexperienced rider are also risk factors, with young adults dominating injury statistics.

    One review found about 60% of jet ski crashes involved the rider drinking alcohol.

    What types of injuries?

    Recreational riders often typically travel at 60–80 kilometres per hour. But these machines can reach speeds above 100km/h. This can generate immense force in the event of a collision.

    In a crash, riders are ejected from the jet ski or collide directly with water, the craft, another vessel or fixed objects. So the leading causes of death and serious injury on jet skis are from these traumatic impacts.

    A study from a US trauma centre looked at 127 people injured in jet ski incidents and found most injuries involved broken bones. The legs were most commonly affected, followed by arms, spine and hips.

    Hitting the handlebars was a major cause of open fractures (when a broken bone pierces the skin), some of which later became infected.

    Women and children face particular risks

    However, there is a distinct and concerning injury pattern for female passengers.

    Women riding on the back of a jet ski (as a passenger) are especially at risk of serious injuries to the genital and anal area. This can happen if they fall off backwards and land directly on the powerful stream of water coming from the jet nozzle.

    Case reports describe incidents of vaginal lacerations, rectal injuries and pelvic floor damage. Such injuries are rare but can be devastating and life-threatening. Sometimes there are permanent complications, such as the risk of infertility or incontinence.

    Children also face unique and often severe risks. A US study looked at 66 children hospitalised in jet ski accidents. It found most were boys with the average age of around 12 years old, and nearly three-quarters operated the jet ski themselves. About 70% of injuries involved collisions with another vessel or object. Four children died, all from head trauma after crashing into stationary objects. More than 40% were left with some degree of disability.

    What now?

    The risks from jet skis are real and too often underestimated. But many injuries can be prevented:

    • we need public education campaigns to remind riders of the risks and to promote better behaviour. This would remind riders to slow down in congested areas, avoid reckless turns, and be especially careful with passengers. As alcohol is a common factor in crashes, drinking in moderation before riding should also be stressed

    • women are recommended to wear neoprene protective shorts, or wetsuits, instead of ordinary swimwear. A growing number of medical professionals are now backing this as essential safety gear, not optional, to reduce the risk of perineal injuries from water jets

    • manufacturers can redesign handlebars to reduce the severity of impact injuries. They can also build in safeguards that reduce jet pressure when no one is seated at the rear (to safeguard the health of a passenger who falls off backwards)

    • states also need consistent rules on minimum rider age, training and licensing. The laws vary widely. These inconsistent regulations create confusion and loopholes, especially when riders cross borders.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk – https://theconversation.com/jet-ski-accidents-are-tragic-but-preventable-heres-how-to-reduce-the-risk-261746

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio

    A Kerrville, Texas, resident watches the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025. Eric Vryn/Getty Images

    Texas Hill Country is known for its landscapes, where shallow rivers wind among hills and through rugged valleys. That geography also makes it one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for flash flooding.

    In the early hours of July 4, 2025, a flash flood swept through an area of Hill Country dotted with summer camps and small towns about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio. More than 135 people died in the flooding. The majority of them were in Kerr County, including more than two dozen girls and counselors at one summer camp, Camp Mystic. Dozens more people were still unaccounted for a week later.

    The flooding began with a heavy downpour, with more than 10 inches of rain in some areas, that sent water sheeting off the hillsides and into creeks. The creeks poured into the Guadalupe River.

    A river gauge at Hunt, Texas, near Camp Mystic, showed how quickly the river flooded: Around 3 a.m. on July 4, the Guadalupe River was rising about 1 foot every 5 minutes at the gauge, National Weather Service data shows. By 4:30 a.m., it had risen more than 20 feet. As the water moved downstream, it reached Kerrville, where the river rose even faster.

    Flood expert Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist and civil engineer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, explains what makes this part of the country, known as Flash Flood Alley, so dangerous.

    What makes Hill Country so prone to flooding?

    Texas as a whole leads the nation in flood deaths, and by a wide margin. A colleague and I analyzed data from 1959 to 2019 and found 1,069 people had died in flooding in Texas over those six decades. The next highest total was in Louisiana, with 693.

    Many of those flood deaths have been in Hill County. It’s part of an area known as Flash Flood Alley, a crescent of land that curves from near Dallas down to San Antonio and then westward.

    The hills are steep, and the water moves quickly when it floods. This is a semi-arid area with soils that don’t soak up much water, so the water sheets off quickly and the shallow creeks can rise fast.

    When those creeks converge on a river, they can create a surge of water that wipes out homes and washes away cars and, unfortunately, anyone in its path.

    Hill Country has seen some devastating flash floods. In 1987, heavy rain in western Kerr County quickly flooded the Guadalupe River, triggering a flash flood similar to the one in 2025. Ten teenagers being evacuated from a camp died in the rushing water.

    San Antonio, at the eastern edge of Hill Country, was hit with a flash flood on June 12, 2025, that killed 13 people whose cars were swept away by high water from a fast-flooding creek near an interstate ramp in the early morning.

    Why does the region get such strong downpours?

    One reason Hill Country gets powerful downpours is the Balcones Escarpment.

    The escarpment is a line of cliffs and steep hills created by a geologic fault. When warm air from the Gulf rushes up the escarpment, it condenses and can dump a lot of moisture. That water flows down the hills quickly, from many different directions, filling streams and rivers below.

    As temperature rise, the warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the downpour and flood risk.

    A tour of the Guadalupe River and its flood risk.

    The same effect can contribute to flash flooding in San Antonio, where the large amount of paved land and lack of updated drainage to control runoff adds to the risk.

    What can be done to improve flash flood safety?

    First, it’s important for people to understand why flash flooding happens and just how fast the water can rise and flow. In many arid areas, dry or shallow creeks can quickly fill up with fast-moving water and become deadly. So people should be aware of the risks and pay attention to the weather.

    Improving flood forecasting, with more detailed models of the physics and water velocity at different locations, can also help.

    Probabilistic forecasting, for example, can provide a range of rainfall scenarios, enabling authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios. A scientific framework linking rainfall forecasts to the local impacts, such as streamflow, flood depth and water velocity, could also help decision-makers implement timely evacuations or road closures.

    Education is particularly essential for drivers. One to two feet of moving water can wash away a car. People may think their trucks and SUVs can go through anything, but fast-moving water can flip a truck and carry it away.

    Officials can also do more to barricade roads when the flood risk is high to prevent people from driving into harm’s way. We found that 58% of the flood deaths in Texas over the past six decades involved vehicles. The storm on June 12 in San Antonio was an example. It was early morning, and drivers had poor visibility. The cars were hit by fast-rising floodwater from an adjacent creek.

    This article, originally published July 5, 2025, has been updated with the death toll rising.

    Hatim Sharif does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed more than 135 people, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding – https://theconversation.com/why-texas-hill-country-where-a-devastating-flood-killed-more-than-135-people-is-one-of-the-deadliest-places-in-the-us-for-flash-flooding-260555

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Secures $49 Million for Louisiana in FY 2026 Appropriations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced that he successfully secured $49,102,00.00 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the first Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations bills advanced by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. These projects will support critical Louisiana priorities, from military construction and public safety to university research.
    “Whether it’s almost $1.4 million for Jefferson Parish to support criminal investigations, $500 thousand to the Northshore to address substance abuse and mental health issues, or multiple grants across the state to support first responders, this money works for the safety, security, and economic growth of Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. Since taking office, Cassidy has emerged as one of the most effective U.S. Senators at directing federal dollars home to Louisiana, despite not serving on the Appropriations Committee. In FY2024, Roll Call reported that Cassidy was one of the top 20 senators in total funding secured for his state, and one of only five in that group who does not sit on the Appropriations Committee. That year, he secured a record $1.3 billion for Louisiana—the highest of any member of the state’s congressional delegation.
    See below for a list of the funding secured by Senator Cassidy.

    Funding Amount
    Recipient
    Project Description

    $30,000,000.00
    Fort Polk
    This funding will support construction of the Rotational Unit Billeting Area, Phase 1.

    $5,000,000.00
    University of Louisiana at Lafayette
    This funding will support purchase of equipment for the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Technology Center.

    $4,000,000.00
    St. Bernard Parish
    This funding will support construction of a new fire station.

    $2,500,000.00
    Louisiana State University
    This funding will support LSU’s Electronic Microscopy Sight Initiative.

    $1,500,000.00
    City of Ruston Police Department
    This funding will support development of a Real Time Intelligence Crime Center.

    $1,395,000.00
    Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office
    This funding will support purchase of advanced forensic equipment.

    $1,350,000.00
    University of New Orleans
    This funding will support instrumentation upgrades in computing and chemical sciences.

    $1,250,000.00
    East Baton Rouge DA’s Office
    This funding will support the Gun Intelligence Center Program.

    $794,000.00
    West Monroe Police Department
    This funding will support purchase of safety equipment for officers.

    $500,000.00
    22nd Judicial District Court
    This funding will support specialty courts for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

    $300,000.00
    Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office
    This funding will support upgrades to local law enforcement services.

    $263,000.00
    Town of Farmerville
    This funding will support renovations to the fire department.

    $250,000.00
    Tensas Parish Police Jury
    This funding will support security equipment upgrades.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

    Balinese officials have begun the demolition of more than 40 businesses at Bingin Beach, a popular tourist spot in the Uluwatu region.

    In June, the Balinese House of Representatives determined the settlement is on public land, and is therefore illegal and needs to be demolished. But I’d argue it doesn’t.

    The ‘illegal’ settlement

    The Bingin Beach coastal settlement began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub at the base of a steep escarpment. The beach is a few hundred metres long and largely disappears at high tide.

    Originally lined with a string of makeshift warungs (small food stores) and cheap accommodations, the settlement has grown incrementally over the decades, up and along the escarpment, with an intensive mix of surf shops, restaurants and small hotels.

    The steepness of the slope precludes vehicle access. The only public access is via two somewhat narrow pedestrian stairways.

    While it initially served the surfer community, the settlement now caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.

    But after more than 50 years of incremental development, the House of Representatives has declared the settlement was illegally constructed on state land, and has ordered the demolition of 45 buildings – effectively the entire settlement.

    While most of the buildings seem highly durable, the demolition order is based on illegality, and not durability. A spokesperson for the traders argues most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake.

    The ‘legal’ settlement

    The former farmland at the top of the escarpment is also covered with tourist developments that mostly emerged since 2010, and now extend up to a kilometre inland. This is a much more familiar landscape for Bali: a mix of walled hotel compounds and private villas, with manicured gardens and swimming pools.

    However, one could scarcely call this larger settlement “planned”. Shops and restaurants emerge wherever they can find a market along the narrow roads. There are no sidewalks and pedestrians are constantly engaged in an anxious game of negotiated passing.

    The infrastructure of roads and lanes has also been designed incrementally, across the former farm fields, as the settlement developed. The resulting street network is convoluted and largely unwalkable. The most common street sign is “no beach access this way”.

    What is informality?

    I’m an academic, architect and urban planner who studies informal settlements and informal urbanism more generally. In this context “informal” can mean illegal, makeshift and unplanned, but it can also mean incremental, adaptive and inventive.

    Informal settlement is the means by which a large proportion of Indonesians produce affordable housing. It is also the most traditional form of indigenous housing globally.

    After many decades of governments trying to demolish such settlements, the overwhelming consensus across the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is that wholesale demolition is rarely an answer. On-site formalisation and upgrading is the more sustainable pathway.

    When engaging with informal settlements, we need to preserve the infrastructures that work and only demolish where necessary. The Bingin Beach escarpment settlement has proven sustainable and has become an integral part of the local heritage.

    Its demolition will destroy livelihoods and displace the surfing market, while feathering other nests.

    So why is it being demolished? Perhaps to clear the ground for the next round of up-market resorts – what urban studies research calls “accumulation by disposession”. Bingin is widely seen as a major real estate hotspot for investment.

    What is overdevelopment?

    One of the key dangers of informal settlement is “overdevelopment”. Without
    formal planning codes, density can escalate to destroy the very attraction that produced the settlement.

    Most buildings along the Bingin Beach escarpment are two to four storeys, and step back with the slope of the escarpment. The exception is the 2019 addition of the Morabito Art Cliff hotel that rises more than six storeys, obscuring the natural landscape, blocking views, and setting a precedent for more of the same.

    If everyone in the area built like this, the Bingin settlement would be replaced with a cliff of buildings. To demolish this one building would set a useful precedent of containing the settlement to a sustainable scale.

    The Impossibles dream

    A few hundred metres south-west of Bingin Beach, a different story unfolds near the beach known as Impossibles. Here, a precarious limestone cliff largely precludes access to the beach, and the clifftop has long been lined with low-rise tourist compounds.

    An aeriel view of the Uluwatu coast shows Bingin Beach and the Impossibles.
    Map data: Google, 2025 Maxar Technologies

    This earlier layer of development is now being demolished and replaced with larger, denser resorts as part of the Amali project which claims a “rare cliff-front location”. The location is “rare” because about half of the 50-metre-high cliff has been excavated to construct villa units quite literally in the cliff.

    This excavation was well underway when, in May 2024, it caused much of the remaining natural cliff face to collapse onto the beach and into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the excavation was formally approved. Either way, it prompts the question: what if everyone did that?

    The Bingin escarpment and the Impossibles cliff face represent very different kinds of development. One is incremental, irregular and geared to its social and environmental context, while the other is large-grain and environmentally destructive. It makes no sense to demolish the former in order to make way for the latter.

    It is imperative to not only save the Bingin Beach settlement, which is part of Bali’s surfing heritage, but also to awaken from the impossible dream of building more and more villas on this fragile and limited coastland.

    Kim Dovey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment – https://theconversation.com/bali-is-built-on-informal-and-illegal-settlements-bulldozing-bingin-beach-misses-the-real-threat-of-overdevelopment-261755

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Kim Dovey, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Melbourne

    Balinese officials have begun the demolition of more than 40 businesses at Bingin Beach, a popular tourist spot in the Uluwatu region.

    In June, the Balinese House of Representatives determined the settlement is on public land, and is therefore illegal and needs to be demolished. But I’d argue it doesn’t.

    The ‘illegal’ settlement

    The Bingin Beach coastal settlement began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub at the base of a steep escarpment. The beach is a few hundred metres long and largely disappears at high tide.

    Originally lined with a string of makeshift warungs (small food stores) and cheap accommodations, the settlement has grown incrementally over the decades, up and along the escarpment, with an intensive mix of surf shops, restaurants and small hotels.

    The steepness of the slope precludes vehicle access. The only public access is via two somewhat narrow pedestrian stairways.

    While it initially served the surfer community, the settlement now caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.

    But after more than 50 years of incremental development, the House of Representatives has declared the settlement was illegally constructed on state land, and has ordered the demolition of 45 buildings – effectively the entire settlement.

    While most of the buildings seem highly durable, the demolition order is based on illegality, and not durability. A spokesperson for the traders argues most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake.

    The ‘legal’ settlement

    The former farmland at the top of the escarpment is also covered with tourist developments that mostly emerged since 2010, and now extend up to a kilometre inland. This is a much more familiar landscape for Bali: a mix of walled hotel compounds and private villas, with manicured gardens and swimming pools.

    However, one could scarcely call this larger settlement “planned”. Shops and restaurants emerge wherever they can find a market along the narrow roads. There are no sidewalks and pedestrians are constantly engaged in an anxious game of negotiated passing.

    The infrastructure of roads and lanes has also been designed incrementally, across the former farm fields, as the settlement developed. The resulting street network is convoluted and largely unwalkable. The most common street sign is “no beach access this way”.

    What is informality?

    I’m an academic, architect and urban planner who studies informal settlements and informal urbanism more generally. In this context “informal” can mean illegal, makeshift and unplanned, but it can also mean incremental, adaptive and inventive.

    Informal settlement is the means by which a large proportion of Indonesians produce affordable housing. It is also the most traditional form of indigenous housing globally.

    After many decades of governments trying to demolish such settlements, the overwhelming consensus across the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is that wholesale demolition is rarely an answer. On-site formalisation and upgrading is the more sustainable pathway.

    When engaging with informal settlements, we need to preserve the infrastructures that work and only demolish where necessary. The Bingin Beach escarpment settlement has proven sustainable and has become an integral part of the local heritage.

    Its demolition will destroy livelihoods and displace the surfing market, while feathering other nests.

    So why is it being demolished? Perhaps to clear the ground for the next round of up-market resorts – what urban studies research calls “accumulation by disposession”. Bingin is widely seen as a major real estate hotspot for investment.

    What is overdevelopment?

    One of the key dangers of informal settlement is “overdevelopment”. Without
    formal planning codes, density can escalate to destroy the very attraction that produced the settlement.

    Most buildings along the Bingin Beach escarpment are two to four storeys, and step back with the slope of the escarpment. The exception is the 2019 addition of the Morabito Art Cliff hotel that rises more than six storeys, obscuring the natural landscape, blocking views, and setting a precedent for more of the same.

    If everyone in the area built like this, the Bingin settlement would be replaced with a cliff of buildings. To demolish this one building would set a useful precedent of containing the settlement to a sustainable scale.

    The Impossibles dream

    A few hundred metres south-west of Bingin Beach, a different story unfolds near the beach known as Impossibles. Here, a precarious limestone cliff largely precludes access to the beach, and the clifftop has long been lined with low-rise tourist compounds.

    An aeriel view of the Uluwatu coast shows Bingin Beach and the Impossibles.
    Map data: Google, 2025 Maxar Technologies

    This earlier layer of development is now being demolished and replaced with larger, denser resorts as part of the Amali project which claims a “rare cliff-front location”. The location is “rare” because about half of the 50-metre-high cliff has been excavated to construct villa units quite literally in the cliff.

    This excavation was well underway when, in May 2024, it caused much of the remaining natural cliff face to collapse onto the beach and into the ocean. It remains unclear whether the excavation was formally approved. Either way, it prompts the question: what if everyone did that?

    The Bingin escarpment and the Impossibles cliff face represent very different kinds of development. One is incremental, irregular and geared to its social and environmental context, while the other is large-grain and environmentally destructive. It makes no sense to demolish the former in order to make way for the latter.

    It is imperative to not only save the Bingin Beach settlement, which is part of Bali’s surfing heritage, but also to awaken from the impossible dream of building more and more villas on this fragile and limited coastland.

    Kim Dovey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Bali is built on informal and ‘illegal’ settlements. Bulldozing Bingin Beach misses the real threat of overdevelopment – https://theconversation.com/bali-is-built-on-informal-and-illegal-settlements-bulldozing-bingin-beach-misses-the-real-threat-of-overdevelopment-261755

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI China: US opens investigation into Harvard’s participation in Exchange Visitor Program

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it is opening an investigation into Harvard University’s continued eligibility as a sponsor for the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows foreign students and scholars to participate in exchange programs in the United States.

    The investigation marks the Trump administration’s renewed effort to restrict the admission of overseas students at the country’s oldest university.

    “To maintain their privilege to sponsor exchange visitors, sponsors must comply with all regulations, including conducting their programs in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States,” U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio said in a statement.

    “The investigation will ensure that State Department programs do not run contrary to our nation’s interests,” said Rubio.

    A spokesperson for Harvard University said in a statement that this investigation is “yet another retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” while noting that Harvard is committed to continuing to comply with the applicable Exchange Visitor Program regulations.

    Earlier this week, Judge Allison Burroughs from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts held a hearing on the Trump administration’s cuts to Harvard’s federal funding — an estimated total of over 2.6 billion U.S. dollars.

    In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump called the judge “a total disaster,” pledging that his administration would file an immediate appeal should the ruling go against them. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: STAR Market reforms to spur innovation

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Ongoing reforms at the tech-focused STAR Market of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, part of China’s continued efforts to give more financial support to the private economy, will further spur technology innovation and facilitate high-quality economic growth in the country, said experts.

    The comments came after two new private economy-focused subindexes were officially launched at the STAR Market on Wednesday.

    The SSE STAR Private-owned Enterprises Index will track all private companies trading on the STAR Market.

    Public data show that there were 422 such companies by the end of June, with a combined market capitalization of 3.5 trillion yuan ($490 million). Among these, 171 reported increases both in sales revenue and net profit last year, 37 companies posted a 50 percent year-on-year increase in turnover, while 64 firms saw a 50 percent surge in annual net profit.

    Another subindex, SSE STAR Private-owned Enterprises 50 Strategy Index, was also launched on Wednesday.

    The index constituents are 50 private companies with high research expenditure and strong profitability. Companies specializing in semiconductors, computers and biomedicine account for about 68.5 percent weighting in the new index.

    The total market cap of its 50 constituents reached 1.2 trillion yuan by the end of June. The average daily trading value of these companies came in at 16.1 billion yuan in 2024.

    Fang Yi, chief strategist at Guotai Haitong Securities, said that index-based investments have been maturing at the STAR Market after the board started trading six years ago. More products have been designed and introduced based on these indexes, boosting market activity and diversifying the investor pool, he said.

    A total of 32 STAR Market subindexes have been launched so far, deriving 86 STAR Market exchange-traded funds with a total market value of over 250 billion yuan. Half of these subindexes were rolled out after the release of eight additional reform policies for the STAR Market in June last year, according to SSE and China Securities Index Co Ltd.

    According to market tracker Wind Info, there are about 3,478 private companies trading on mainland’s major exchanges, accounting for two-thirds of all the A-share companies. Their combined market cap topped 31.7 trillion yuan, accounting for 38.5 percent of the A-share market total.

    More important, A-share listed private companies saw their combined research investment exceeding 650 billion yuan for a second consecutive year in 2024. Research expenditure was equal to 3.8 percent of their annual sales revenue last year, 1.2 percentage points higher than the A-share market average.

    A large number of STAR Market companies specialize in future-oriented industries such as biological manufacturing, quantum technology, embodied intelligence and 6G, which are at an early stage in China, said experts from Changjiang Securities.

    Focusing on hard technologies, cutting-edge technologies and market-based pricing, the STAR Market has served as a major venue for the Chinese capital market to facilitate technology innovation, said Tian Xuan, head of Tsinghua University’s National Institute of Financial Research.

    China has also been advancing efforts to inject more vitality into the private sector. The Private Sector Promotion Law, which took effect in May, has unveiled substantial measures regarding the investment and financing of private enterprises.

    Apart from announcing a set of new STAR Market reform policies at the Lujiazui Forum in June, China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing stressed that unprofitable yet quality innovation-driven companies will be supported to seek public listings.

    With concerted efforts from various government bodies, financing provided to private enterprises will be increased and their costs lowered. These companies’ technology innovation and green transition will be better supported, said Tian Lihui, head of the Institute of Finance and Development at Nankai University.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s first Airbus jet symbolizes 40 years of aviation ties

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Preserved at Beijing’s Civil Aviation Museum, an Airbus A310 with the registration number B-2301 stands as a physical testament to four decades of cooperation between China’s civil aviation industry and the European plane maker.

    The China Eastern Airlines lettering on the fuselage and the airline’s red-and-blue logo on the tail remain distinct despite the aircraft’s age.

    The plane was Airbus’ first commercial delivery to China, delivered on June 25, 1985. Received by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Shanghai Branch, which was the predecessor to China Eastern Airlines, it marked the beginning of Airbus’ partnership with China’s civil aviation sector.

    The delivery came as China’s reform and opening-up accelerated demand for domestic and international air travel. With a national fleet of just over 200 aircraft at the time, China sought modern jets to expand its network. The twin-engine widebody A310 significantly boosted capacities, profitability and passenger comfort on key routes between Shanghai and locations like Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka.

    “This A310 did start what became a phenomenal success story, friendship and basis of trust between airlines and us at Airbus, beyond the European aviation ecosystem and its Chinese counterparts, and even beyond that between Europe and China,” said Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

    In the decades that followed, China’s civil aviation sustained an average annual growth rate of around 20 percent in total traffic turnover over a prolonged period. Successive Airbus models, including the A300, A340, A320, A330, A380 and A350, joined Chinese fleets, enabling the creation of a comprehensive domestic and international route network.

    Specific models saw notable milestone achievements. The A340 pioneered a polar route, the A319 and A330 operated effectively on the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the A320 family introduced a fly-by-wire digital flight control system, the A350 opened the possibility of ultra-long-haul routes, and Airbus freighters bolstered air logistics.

    Airbus became both a witness to and a participant in China’s rapid aviation development.

    China is now the world’s second-largest air transport market and Airbus’ largest single-country market for commercial aircraft. Operating a fleet exceeding 4,300 aircraft, over 2,200 of which are Airbus jets, Chinese aviation has evolved from follower to leader.

    The Airbus 2025 global market forecast projects annual air trips per capita in China will rise from 0.6 in 2024 to 1.8 by 2044. Over the next 20 years, China is expected to become the world’s largest air transport market, requiring 9,570 new aircraft — nearly a quarter of global demand.

    “It is the intention of Airbus to continue its footprint in China,” Scherer said. “Ranging from the second final assembly line at Tianjin to the development of more services and support capabilities, including digital services and, of course, pioneering with Chinese partners in sustainable aviation fuel.”

    Cooperation now spans the entire aircraft life cycle from research, design, manufacturing and final assembly to operational support and end-of-life recycling.

    Airbus and its Chinese partners have established facilities across China: training, engineering and customer support centers in Beijing, an A320-family final assembly line and widebody completion-and-delivery center in Tianjin, an aircraft life-cycle services center in Chengdu, a composites manufacturing center in Harbin, an innovation center in Shenzhen, and an R&D center in Suzhou. Airbus employs over 2,300 staff in China.

    To mark 40 years of operations, Airbus has launched a project to refurbish the historic B-2301 A310. After 21 years of service, the plane was retired in 2006. Repurchased by Airbus and donated to the China Civil Aviation Science Popularization Foundation, it now resides at the Civil Aviation Museum in Beijing as the institution’s largest and most valuable exhibit.

    The refurbishment project, involving the aircraft’s cockpit, cabin and external livery, aims to offer the public an immersive, educational experience by 2027. Wang Yanan, an aviation expert at Beihang University, said that the revitalized A310 will become a communicator of science and culture, revealing what lies behind aircraft design and manufacturing.

    Fang Zhaoya, chairman of China Eastern Airlines Technology Co., Ltd. and the project’s honorary advisor, voiced his anticipation for strengthened cooperation between Airbus and China, saying that he looks forward to “another 40 golden years of partnership.”

    George Xu, executive vice president of Airbus and CEO of Airbus China, called the A310 “a symbol of China-Europe aviation cooperation and the starting point of the Airbus story in China.”

    “Looking ahead, Airbus remains committed to deepening its roots in China, serving China, growing alongside its civil aviation industry, and contributing further to its high-quality development,” Xu said. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The II International Forum of Russia-Africa Cooperation “Education. Business. Culture – 2025” will be held within the framework of “Technoprom-2025”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In August 2025, the II International Forum of Russia-Africa Cooperation “Education. Business. Culture – 2025” will be held as part of the XII International Forum “Technoprom-2025”. The event is organized by the Center for Public Diplomacy, NSU and the Consortium of Russian Universities for the Development of Cooperation with African Countries.

    An impressive delegation from African countries plans to take part in the forum:

    — Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation of the following countries: Republic of Mali, Republic of Chad, Republic of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Republic of Niger, Rwanda, Namibia, Angola and Ghana.

    — Ministers of Education of the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Guinea and Burkina Faso, Ministers of Industry, Digitalization and Agriculture of Burkina Faso.

    — The Presidents of the Academies of Sciences of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the Rectors of the Abdou Moumouni University and the University of Agadez (both from the Republic of Niger).

    — Heads of the national oil companies of Burkina Faso and Niger.

    — Mayor of the city of Ouagadougou (the capital of Burkina Faso).

    Let us recall that the first forum “Russia-Africa” was held last year on the initiative of NSU and the Center for Public Diplomacy. One of the results was the creation of a Consortium of Russian Universities for the development of cooperation with African countries.

    This year, the Consortium members will analyze the current interaction of Russian universities with African countries, discuss the challenges and obstacles that hinder mutually beneficial cooperation, identify key areas and formulate a roadmap (work plan) for the Consortium for the next year. The roadmap will be based on a systemic approach that ensures the consolidation of efforts by Russian universities and the unification of actions at all levels – from government agencies to the universities themselves. The implementation of the proposed measures will improve the quality of education and improve the culture of mutual understanding between the regions. The implementation of these initiatives will strengthen Russia’s position on the African continent and will become the basis for the further development of bilateral relations.

    The Forum also plans to discuss joint work in the areas of school and secondary specialized education. The Center for Public Diplomacy and NSU plan to hold talks with the Minister of Secondary Education, Vocational and Technical Training of Burkina Faso Boubacar Sawadogo on the possibilities of cooperation and to develop an algorithm for joint actions.

    The following are promising educational projects in African countries:

    — The “Russian Teacher Abroad” program, within the framework of which students from the pilot international class of the African school will study the Russian language.

    — A program for training foreign students in working specialties under joint educational programs of African and Novosibirsk colleges. Those who successfully complete the training will be able to continue their studies at Novosibirsk universities. The pilot project includes colleges implementing training in agricultural, technical and natural science areas.

    — The African continent is a priority region for the export of Russian education. Since 2024, NSU has been actively developing cooperation with African countries. In this context, agreements were signed with Thomas Sankara University (Burkina Faso) and Abdou Moumouni University (Niger). From December 2024 to July 2025, a preparatory department in the medical and biological profile operated jointly with the Russian House in Niger, in which 24 people studied. From March to the end of July 2025, online courses in the Russian language were opened at Thomas Sankara University, which were completed by 50 bachelors and masters. The next stage will be the organization of preparatory courses in the medical and biological profile, after which students will be able to continue their studies at NSU. The University also plans to organize scientific internships for young scientists and graduate students from Burkina Faso for 3-6 months, said Evgeny Sagaydak, Head of the Education Export Department at NSU.

    Another interesting project is the preliminary agreement reached between NSU and the University of Saint Dominic (USDAO) from Burkina Faso on joint training of medical personnel for this West African state. The cooperation agreement between the universities may be signed this summer.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New appointment to the TEC Board

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Vocational Education Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced the appointment of Yvonne Browning MNZM to a vacant position on the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). 

    “I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Mrs Browning to this role. She is passionate about ensuring students, particularly young women, can realise their potential by engaging in tertiary education and training,” Ms Simmonds says. 

    “Mrs Browning has been Principal of Southland Girls’ High School since 2003 and in 2023 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to education and youth. 

    “Key to this honour was her role leading a partnership with Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and other organisations in Southland, including iwi and the Pacific community, that resulted in more young women pursuing qualifications and careers in engineering.” 

    “The TEC has a statutory role to facilitate and strengthen connections between schools, employers and tertiary education organisations to ensure students are prepared for further education or training and employment. Mrs Browning’s expertise in this area will be valuable to its Board,” Ms Simmonds says. 

    “Her experience and skills will complement and strengthen the governance of the Board and ensure that the TEC’s funding of tertiary education and training providers is informed by views of what works for young people when they are considering potential career options. 

    “This is critical as the TEC has a key role in ensuring young New Zealanders have the information and skills they need to succeed and help New Zealand grow.” 

    The appointment is for a three-year term from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: World’s highest court issues groundbreaking ruling for climate action. Here’s what it means for Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

    The world’s highest court says countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change, in a ruling that repudiates Australia’s claims it is not legally responsible for emissions from our fossil fuel exports.

    The landmark ruling overnight by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will reverberate in courts, parliaments and boardrooms the world over.

    In a closely watched case at The Hague, the judges were asked to clarify the legal obligations countries have to protect the Earth’s climate system for current and future generations. They were also asked to clarify the legal consequences for nations that fail to do this.

    At issue was the scope of legal obligations. During the court’s deliberations, Australia sided with other fossil fuel exporters and major emitters – including Saudi Arabia, the United States and China – to argue state obligations on climate change are restricted to those set out in climate-specific treaties such as the Paris Agreement.

    But the court disagreed. It found countries have additional obligations to protect the climate and take action to prevent climate harm inside and outside their boundaries. These obligations arise in human rights law, the law of the sea, and general principles of international law.

    This clear statement will have groundbreaking consequences. It means Australia must set a 2035 emissions reduction target in line with the best available science, as required under the Paris Agreement. But it must also go further, by regulating the fossil fuel industry to prevent further harm.

    Australia’s arguments rejected

    The ICJ is the primary legal organ of the United Nations. Its key role is to settle disputes between countries and clarify international law as it applies to nation states.

    While weighing up the obligations of countries to address the climate crisis, the court heard legal arguments from almost 100 countries, making it the largest case ever heard by the ICJ.

    The case threatened major implications for fossil-fuel producers such as Australia, which is heavily reliant on coal and gas exports.

    In his oral presentation to the ICJ, Australian Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue told the court only the Paris Agreement should apply when it comes to mitigating climate change. Under the Paris rules, countries must set targets to cut domestic emissions, but they are not required to report emissions created when their fossil fuel exports are burned overseas.

    Donaghue and the Australian delegation also suggested responsibility for harms caused by climate change could not be pinned on individual states. Australia also argued protecting human rights does not extend to obligations to tackle climate change.

    The ICJ largely rejected these arguments.

    The ICJ judges largely rejected Australia’s arguments. Pictured: ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa (third from right) and members issuing their advisory opinion.
    JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

    Fossil fuel era is over

    The court found Australia, and other fossil fuel producers, are obliged under international law to prevent fossil fuel companies in their territory from causing significant climate harm.

    This will essentially require a managed phase out of fossil fuel production. As the ICJ ruling says:

    Failure of a State to take appropriate action to protect the climate system from [greenhouse gas] emissions – including through fossil fuel production, fossil fuel consumption, the granting of fossil fuel exploration licences or the provision of fossil fuel subsidies – may constitute an internationally wrongful act which is attributable to that State.

    Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. When burned overseas, emissions from Australia’s fossil fuel exports are more than double those of its entire domestic economy.

    Australia has approved hundreds of oil, gas and coal projects in recent decades. Dozens more are in the approvals pipeline. Final federal approval is still pending for Woodside’s massive Northwest Shelf gas project – which is set to add millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, for decades.

    The Australian government must heed the message from the Hague. The days of impunity for the fossil fuel industry are coming to an end.

    Woodside’s massive Northwest Shelf gas project is set to add millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
    GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images

    A spark of hope from the Pacific

    Today’s ruling is remarkable for where it originated.

    In 2019, 27 law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu were given a challenge: find the most ambitious legal pathways towards climate justice.

    Each year, Vanuatu faces the prospect of cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, flooding rain and drought. Climate change compounds the risk to island communities – people who have done the least to contribute to the problem.

    The students decided to file a case with the world court. And so began a legal campaign that travelled from Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, through the halls of the United Nations in New York and to the world court in the Hague.

    In 2023 Vanuatu and other island nations succeeded in passing a UN General Assembly resolution. It asked the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on countries’ obligations to protect the climate system and legal consequences for states causing “significant harm” to Earth’s climate.

    This week’s ruling delivers poetic justice to Vanuatu and other vulnerable island states.

    The ruling delivers poetic justice to Vanuatu and other vulnerable island states. Pictured: representatives of Pacific states outside the International Court of Justice in December 2024.
    Michel Porro/Getty Images

    A new era for climate justice

    The court’s findings are likely to influence a wave of climate litigation worldwide. It could shape legal reasoning in Australia, too.

    Last week, a Federal Court judge found the Australian government has no legal duty of care to protect Torres Strait Islanders from climate change. If that case is appealed, a superior court may revisit the government’s obligations – and have regard to the ICJ ruling in doing so.

    The ICJ decision will also be relevant for the Queensland Land Court, which this week began hearing a challenge to stop a greenfield mine proposed by Whitehaven Coal – citing environmental and human rights impacts of the project’s emissions.

    Clarified international law obligations should also guide policymakers in the Australian parliament. With a huge majority in the House of Representatives and a climate-friendly Senate crossbench, the Albanese government has a mandate to implement policy in line with Australia’s international law obligations.

    Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia

    Gillian Moon is a regular donor to the Australian Conservation Foundation, which is a party in the Whitehaven Coal case.

    ref. World’s highest court issues groundbreaking ruling for climate action. Here’s what it means for Australia – https://theconversation.com/worlds-highest-court-issues-groundbreaking-ruling-for-climate-action-heres-what-it-means-for-australia-261842

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 24, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 24, 2025.

    World’s highest court issues groundbreaking ruling for climate action. Here’s what it means for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images The world’s highest court says countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change, in a ruling that repudiates Australia’s claims it is not legally responsible for emissions

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on why it’s ‘a little frustrating’ bidding for COP 31
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Energy and climate issues are front and centre for both sides of politics. The government is struggling with pushback from some regional communities against the rollout of transmission lines and wind farms. At the same time, it will soon have

    Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Popi Sotiriadou, Associate Professor of Sport Management – Director Business Innovation, Griffith University MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Most sports look to support their athletes to become “faster, higher, stronger” – in reference to the Olympic Games’ original motto – so it is perhaps surprising that cycling’s

    Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Pope, Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Macquarie University The day before my thesis examination, my friend and radio astronomer Joe Callingham showed me an image we’d been awaiting for five long years – an infrared photo of two dying stars we’d requested from

    UN’s highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions
    By Jamie Tahana in The Hague for RNZ Pacific The United Nations’ highest court has found that countries can be held legally responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions, in a ruling highly anticipated by Pacific countries long frustrated with the pace of global action to address climate change. In a landmark opinion delivered yesterday in

    Five arms, no heart and a global family: what DNA revealed about the weird deep-sea world of brittle stars
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim O’Hara, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Museums Victoria Research Institute A brittle star of the species _Gorgonocephalus eucnemis_. Lagunatic Photo / Getty Images You may have read that the deep sea is a very different environment from the land and shallow water. There is no light,

    Birds use hidden black and white feathers to make themselves more colourful
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University The green-headed tanager (_Tangara seledon_) has a hidden layer of plumage that is white underneath the orange feathers and black underneath the blue and green feathers. Daniel Field Birds are perhaps the most colourful group of animals, bringing

    Is sleeping a lot actually bad for your health? A sleep scientist explains
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Walstrom, Susanne/Getty We’re constantly being reminded by news articles and social media posts that we should be getting more sleep. You probably don’t need to hear it again – not sleeping enough is bad

    From grasslands to killing fields: why trees are bad news for one of Australia’s most stunning birds
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor in Geography, University of Adelaide JJ Harrison/Wikimedia, CC BY Picture this. A small, rainbow-coloured chick emerges from its nest for the first time. It stretches its wings and prepares to take flight. But before the fledgling’s life in the wild has begun,

    As seas rise and fish decline, this Fijian village is finding new ways to adapt
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celia McMichael, Professor in Geography, The University of Melbourne Celia McMichael, CC BY-NC-ND In the village of Nagigi, Fiji, the ocean isn’t just a resource – it’s part of the community’s identity. But in recent years, villagers have seen the sea behave differently. Tides are pushing inland.

    After 70 years, twisted gothic thriller The Night of the Hunter remains as disturbing and beguiling as ever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide United Artists/Getty Images In 1955, director Charles Laughton crafted one of the darkest, strangest fairytales ever to come out of Hollywood. The Night of the Hunter remains visually exquisite and profoundly unsettling. Shortly before Ben Harper is

    Almost a third of NZ households face energy hardship – reform has to go beyond cheaper off-peak power
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley O’Sullivan, Senior Research Fellow, He Kainga Oranga – Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago Igor Suka/Getty Images The spotlight is again on New Zealand’s energy sector, with a group of industry bodies and independent retailers pushing for a market overhaul, saying the sector was

    Immigration courts hiding the names of ICE lawyers goes against centuries of precedent and legal ethics requiring transparency in courts
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Burke Robertson, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University Some immigration courts have allowed ICE attorneys to conceal their names during proceedings. Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock via Getty Images Something unusual is happening in U.S. immigration courts. Government lawyers are

    How the UK’s immigration system splits families apart – by design
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nando Sigona, Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement and Director of the Institute for Research into International Migration and Superdiversity, University of Birmingham arda savasciogullari/Shutterstock The letter that arrived for eleven-year-old Guilherme in June 2025 was addressed personally to him. The UK Home Office was informing

    4.48 Psychosis revival: the play’s window into a mind on the edge is as brutal as ever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Sidi, Associate Professor of Health Humanities, UCL Under bright lights, the audience looks at a bare stage on two planes. Below, a small stage is white and empty, occupied only by a table and two chairs. Above, a huge, slanted mirror reflects a bird’s-eye view of

    Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics has hurt the famous women traders
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fidele B. Ebia, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative, Duke University The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined

    2 ways cities can beat the heat: Which is best, urban trees or cool roofs?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Smith, Research Scientist in Earth & Environment, Boston University Trees like these in Boston can help keep neighborhoods cooler on hot days. Yassine Khalfalli/Unsplash, CC BY When summer turns up the heat, cities can start to feel like an oven, as buildings and pavement trap the

    Indonesian military set to complete Trans-Papua Highway under Prabowo’s rule
    By Julian Isaac The Indonesian Military (TNI) is committed to supporting the completion of the Trans-Papua Highway during President Prabowo Subianto’s term in office. While the military is not involved in construction, it plays a critical role in securing the project from threats posed by pro-independence Papuan resistance groups in “high-risk” regions. Spanning a total

    View from The Hill: Nationals’ mavericks ensure the Coalition is the issue in parliament’s first week
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra For almost as long anyone can remember, the Nationals have caused the Coalition grief on climate and energy policy. Still, for Barnaby Joyce to bring on a fresh load of trouble – with a private member’s bill to scrap Australia’s

    Childcare centres will have funding stripped if they’re not ‘up to scratch’. Is this enough?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Maskot/Getty Images Childcare centres will lose their eligibility for fee subsidies if they don’t meet safety standards, according to a new bill introduced to parliament on Wednesday. As Education Minister Jason Clare told parliament: it

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 24, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 24, 2025.

    World’s highest court issues groundbreaking ruling for climate action. Here’s what it means for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images The world’s highest court says countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change, in a ruling that repudiates Australia’s claims it is not legally responsible for emissions

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on why it’s ‘a little frustrating’ bidding for COP 31
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Energy and climate issues are front and centre for both sides of politics. The government is struggling with pushback from some regional communities against the rollout of transmission lines and wind farms. At the same time, it will soon have

    Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Popi Sotiriadou, Associate Professor of Sport Management – Director Business Innovation, Griffith University MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Most sports look to support their athletes to become “faster, higher, stronger” – in reference to the Olympic Games’ original motto – so it is perhaps surprising that cycling’s

    Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Pope, Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Macquarie University The day before my thesis examination, my friend and radio astronomer Joe Callingham showed me an image we’d been awaiting for five long years – an infrared photo of two dying stars we’d requested from

    UN’s highest court finds countries can be held legally responsible for emissions
    By Jamie Tahana in The Hague for RNZ Pacific The United Nations’ highest court has found that countries can be held legally responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions, in a ruling highly anticipated by Pacific countries long frustrated with the pace of global action to address climate change. In a landmark opinion delivered yesterday in

    Five arms, no heart and a global family: what DNA revealed about the weird deep-sea world of brittle stars
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim O’Hara, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Museums Victoria Research Institute A brittle star of the species _Gorgonocephalus eucnemis_. Lagunatic Photo / Getty Images You may have read that the deep sea is a very different environment from the land and shallow water. There is no light,

    Birds use hidden black and white feathers to make themselves more colourful
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University The green-headed tanager (_Tangara seledon_) has a hidden layer of plumage that is white underneath the orange feathers and black underneath the blue and green feathers. Daniel Field Birds are perhaps the most colourful group of animals, bringing

    Is sleeping a lot actually bad for your health? A sleep scientist explains
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Walstrom, Susanne/Getty We’re constantly being reminded by news articles and social media posts that we should be getting more sleep. You probably don’t need to hear it again – not sleeping enough is bad

    From grasslands to killing fields: why trees are bad news for one of Australia’s most stunning birds
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor in Geography, University of Adelaide JJ Harrison/Wikimedia, CC BY Picture this. A small, rainbow-coloured chick emerges from its nest for the first time. It stretches its wings and prepares to take flight. But before the fledgling’s life in the wild has begun,

    As seas rise and fish decline, this Fijian village is finding new ways to adapt
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celia McMichael, Professor in Geography, The University of Melbourne Celia McMichael, CC BY-NC-ND In the village of Nagigi, Fiji, the ocean isn’t just a resource – it’s part of the community’s identity. But in recent years, villagers have seen the sea behave differently. Tides are pushing inland.

    After 70 years, twisted gothic thriller The Night of the Hunter remains as disturbing and beguiling as ever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide United Artists/Getty Images In 1955, director Charles Laughton crafted one of the darkest, strangest fairytales ever to come out of Hollywood. The Night of the Hunter remains visually exquisite and profoundly unsettling. Shortly before Ben Harper is

    Almost a third of NZ households face energy hardship – reform has to go beyond cheaper off-peak power
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley O’Sullivan, Senior Research Fellow, He Kainga Oranga – Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago Igor Suka/Getty Images The spotlight is again on New Zealand’s energy sector, with a group of industry bodies and independent retailers pushing for a market overhaul, saying the sector was

    Immigration courts hiding the names of ICE lawyers goes against centuries of precedent and legal ethics requiring transparency in courts
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Burke Robertson, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University Some immigration courts have allowed ICE attorneys to conceal their names during proceedings. Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock via Getty Images Something unusual is happening in U.S. immigration courts. Government lawyers are

    How the UK’s immigration system splits families apart – by design
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nando Sigona, Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement and Director of the Institute for Research into International Migration and Superdiversity, University of Birmingham arda savasciogullari/Shutterstock The letter that arrived for eleven-year-old Guilherme in June 2025 was addressed personally to him. The UK Home Office was informing

    4.48 Psychosis revival: the play’s window into a mind on the edge is as brutal as ever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Sidi, Associate Professor of Health Humanities, UCL Under bright lights, the audience looks at a bare stage on two planes. Below, a small stage is white and empty, occupied only by a table and two chairs. Above, a huge, slanted mirror reflects a bird’s-eye view of

    Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics has hurt the famous women traders
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fidele B. Ebia, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative, Duke University The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined

    2 ways cities can beat the heat: Which is best, urban trees or cool roofs?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Smith, Research Scientist in Earth & Environment, Boston University Trees like these in Boston can help keep neighborhoods cooler on hot days. Yassine Khalfalli/Unsplash, CC BY When summer turns up the heat, cities can start to feel like an oven, as buildings and pavement trap the

    Indonesian military set to complete Trans-Papua Highway under Prabowo’s rule
    By Julian Isaac The Indonesian Military (TNI) is committed to supporting the completion of the Trans-Papua Highway during President Prabowo Subianto’s term in office. While the military is not involved in construction, it plays a critical role in securing the project from threats posed by pro-independence Papuan resistance groups in “high-risk” regions. Spanning a total

    View from The Hill: Nationals’ mavericks ensure the Coalition is the issue in parliament’s first week
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra For almost as long anyone can remember, the Nationals have caused the Coalition grief on climate and energy policy. Still, for Barnaby Joyce to bring on a fresh load of trouble – with a private member’s bill to scrap Australia’s

    Childcare centres will have funding stripped if they’re not ‘up to scratch’. Is this enough?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Maskot/Getty Images Childcare centres will lose their eligibility for fee subsidies if they don’t meet safety standards, according to a new bill introduced to parliament on Wednesday. As Education Minister Jason Clare told parliament: it

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Popi Sotiriadou, Associate Professor of Sport Management – Director Business Innovation, Griffith University

    MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images

    Most sports look to support their athletes to become “faster, higher, stronger” – in reference to the Olympic Games’ original motto – so it is perhaps surprising that cycling’s world governing body is trying to slow down elite riders.

    However, there’s good reason the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recently announced new rules to slow riders down.

    These rules – which apply to elite road and cyclo-cross mass-start events for men and women such as the Tour de France – come into place shortly and are aimed at improving rider safety.




    Read more:
    I rode the Tour de France to study its impact on the human body – here’s what I learned


    What are the new rules?

    From August 1, a new bicycle gearing regulation will kick in.

    Professional cyclists will only be allowed to use a 54-tooth front chainring with an 11-tooth rear cog.

    This replaces the current common setup of 54-10.

    To put this into context, a 54-tooth chainring is the big front gear on a bike and the 11-tooth cog is a small rear gear. Moving to a slightly bigger cog (54-11) makes it harder to hit top speeds: the change from a 54-10 to a 54-11 gear setup could reduce the top speed by about 2.4 kilometres per hour.

    Pro riders can reach incredible speeds during descents, sometimes surpassing 130 kilometres per hour.

    Then, from January 1 2026, handlebars must become wider, increasing from a minimum 350–360 millimetres width (depending on the event) to at least 400mm wide.

    The handlebar width affects how a rider controls their bike: narrower bars reduce frontal surface area, making a rider more aerodynamic which again means a faster ride.

    This is especially useful in time trials or sprints.

    Wider bars offer better stability and control, helping navigate tight turns, peloton traffic, or crosswinds.

    The UCI has also announced plans to introduce a formal helmet approval protocol in 2027, which will include separate standards for helmets used in mass-start events and time trials.

    This shift suggests helmets may soon be subject to the same pre-race approval process as frames and wheels, potentially leading to safer, more regulated head protection.

    New rules, different opinions

    Professional cycling is getting faster due to stronger athletes, better training and advanced, lighter equipment.

    As a result, high-speed crashes, especially downhill or in crowded sprint finishes, have become more common and more dangerous.

    The UCI maintain the new regulations are part of a broader strategy to mitigate speed-related risks, enhance safety and uphold the integrity of the sport.

    However, these measures have sparked debate within the cycling community.

    Some elite cyclists, particularly those who have suffered severe crashes and injuries, suggest it is time safety caught up with technology.

    Wout van Aert, who suffered a severe knee injury in September 2024 during a wet descent, said:

    Limiting the number of gears would make the sport much safer.

    Chris Froome, four-time Tour de France winner, also said he supported strategies “to keep the speeds down on the descents”.

    The Professional Cycling Council supports testing gear ratio limits.

    It is also likely these changes could limit cutting-edge innovations that only wealthy teams can afford. This would in turn narrow technological disparities across teams.

    Former pro Michael Barry though believes gear restrictions are not the answer, and the UCI should instead focus on improved course design and inspection, better barriers and crash protective clothing.

    Technology experts agree, arguing speed is determined more by a rider’s power output and aerodynamic drag than by gear ratios. To enhance safety, they propose alternative solutions such as real-time rider tracking, crash-protective clothing, improved course design and inspection and faster medical response.

    The wider handlebar rule has also stirred controversy, especially among smaller-framed riders, many of whom are women, who typically ride with 360–380mm handlebars for better comfort and control.

    Under the new regulation, those forced to use bars that exceed their optimal fit range could end up suffering from poor wrist alignment, increased fatigue and a higher risk of repetitive strain injuries.

    Despite the growth of women’s cycling, the UCI has not made exemptions for smaller riders, raising concerns a one-size-fits-all solution may compromise inclusively and safety.

    Even though regular riders can continue to use the equipment they prefer, what happens in the pro world often shapes non-elite rider preferences and trends, and the bikes sold in stores. If narrower bars are banned at the top level, manufacturers may stop offering them.

    Historically, advancements in aerodynamics, gear ratios and component weights seen in the pro peloton have become standard features on consumer bikes.

    A delicate balance

    The UCI’s new regulations mark a likely shift towards standardised equipment and heightened safety. This deliberate emphasis on safety naturally elevates awareness among all cyclists about the crucial link between equipment choices and rider wellbeing.

    While these restrictions may foster a more level playing field, they also risk curbing the sport’s long-standing tradition of engineering innovation.

    The very appeal of professional cycling has often been intrinsically tied to the relentless pursuit of technological advancements that yield even fractional competitive advantages.

    Striking a balance between ensuring safety and preserving this spirit of ingenuity remains a crucial challenge for the sport’s future.

    Popi Sotiriadou does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy – https://theconversation.com/cyclings-governing-body-is-introducing-new-rules-to-slow-down-elite-riders-not-everyones-happy-260917

    MIL OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey, Rep. Khanna Introduce Legislation to Pause Sentinel Nuclear Missile Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Bill Text (PDF)

    Washington (July 23, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), today introduced the Investing in Children Before Missiles (ICBM) Act of 2025, legislation that would redirect funding from the troubled Sentinel nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program to the U.S. Department of Education.

    The Trump administration is planning to replace the current fleet of nuclear-armed Minuteman III ICBMs with a new fleet of Sentinel ICBMs. However, the Sentinel program is so over budget and behind schedule that the Department of Defense (DoD) was forced to complete a Nunn–McCurdy review last year that found that the cost of the program had skyrocketed to $141 billion, an 81 percent increase. Moreover, the Air Force recently announced the Sentinel program will likely require digging new missile silos, a move that would cause further significant cost increases and schedule delays. In response to Sentinel’s setbacks, DoD is restructuring the program and considering extending the life of the Minuteman III by 11 years, from 2039 to 2050.

    In addition, the Air Force recently announced its plans to pay for upgrades to President Trump’s gift jet from Qatar using excess Sentinel funds. This is yet more evidence that Sentinel funding is “excess to need” and that the program should be paused for one year while it is being restructured. Nevertheless, the Trump administration is seeking to double the budget for the Sentinel missile to $4.1 billion for fiscal year 2026.

    “The United States should invest in education, not annihilation,” said Senator Markey. “The ICBM Act makes clear that we will not continue to waste billions on nuclear weapons we do not need—and that actually make us less safe—when there are more important things to fund, like public education. The Sentinel program is 81 percent overbudget—we are literally throwing taxpayer dollars down the deepest money pit ever created. When you are in a hole, stop digging. The ICBM Act signals we intend to make the world safe from nuclear weapons and prioritize spending that improves lives, rather than endangering them.”

    “The Trump administration’s Sentinel program is $60 billion over budget and years behind schedule. We need to invest into Americans, not further increase wasteful defense spending. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Investing in Children Before Missiles Act of 2025 that will pause the Sentinel program, commission an independent review of existing missile capacity, and redirect funds saved into K-12 programs in low-income communities,” said Rep. Khanna.

    “While the world has changed significantly since I was a nuclear weapons policy analyst at the Pentagon and Congressional Budget Office, the costs associated with nuclear weapons have steadily increased,” said Senator Merkley. “The United States is currently spending billions of dollars on nuclear weapons programs with limited oversight and accountability. As cost overruns continue to mount, Congress must rein in out-of-control nuclear weapons spending and instead responsibly invest these dollars in the success of America’s future leaders: our children.”

    “Instead of sinking tens of billions of taxpayer dollars into propping up a relic of our outdated Cold War-era nuclear strategy – and raising the risk of global mass destruction – we can invest more in fostering greater opportunity for our next generation. The Investing in Children Before Missiles Act does just that – diverting taxpayer funds away from an increasingly expensive boondoggle and instead directing them toward ensuring every child receives a quality education, without compromising our national security. If there ever was an opportunity for greater government efficiency, this is it,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    The ICBM Act is endorsed by the Federation of American Scientists, Council for a Livable World, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Union of Concerned Scientists, Win Without War and United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society.

    “Whether you think nuclear weapons make us more secure or put us at grave risk, everyone can agree that programs should run on time and on budget, or close to it. The Sentinel program is tens of billions over budget and years behind schedule. This is a classic white elephant program – rushed into production before key milestones were reached. The ICBM program should be sent back to the drawing board. We can do much better things that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous with $200 billion,” said Jon Wolfsthal, Director of Global Risk, Federation of American Scientists and former special assistant to the President.

    “The Sentinel ICBM is completely unnecessary, wildly expensive, and so far behind schedule the Pentagon has only a vague idea of when it will be deployed. Given that ICBMs are vulnerable to attack, and therefore kept on hair trigger alert, they create pointless risk. UCS has long called for eliminating them entirely. Sentinel should be cancelled and existing ICBMs retired,” said Stephen Young, Associate Director, Government Affairs, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists.

    “The Sentinel ICBM program is a case study in waste, risk, and misplaced priorities. There is no justification for pouring billions more into new land-based nuclear missiles that increase the risk of accidental war. Instead of deepening our dependence on Cold War-era thinking, we should invest in the future our children deserve: strong public schools, climate resilience, and real security rooted in equity and care. We applaud Senator Markey and Representative Khanna for their leadership in stopping the dangerous and costly Sentinel program and redirecting those resources to what truly keeps our communities safe,” said Sara Haghdoosti, Executive Director of Win Without War.

    “In 2021, Sen. Markey and Rep. Khanna first introduced the ICBM Act to pause funding and work on the already-troubled Sentinel program. Since then, the Sentinel program has continued to raise alarm bells, including in 2024 when it violated the Nunn-McCurdy Act by being more than 30% over budget. Now, the more we learn about this program, the more problems we uncover about its exceptional cost — it is now at least 80% over budget — and inability to meet deadlines. These additional concerns even led the Air Force to talk about a further life-extension of the Minuteman III missile, which the Sentinel is supposed to replace. Enough. It is past time for Congress to ask some serious questions about the necessity of this program and make some tough decisions to stop throwing good money after bad. Modernization of our nuclear forces should not be a blank check. At a time when it seems every government program is under a microscope and funding for critical programs that help every day Americans is being cut, pausing funding and work on this one program until Congress can get to the bottom of the cause of its issues seems like a no-brainer,” said John Tierney, Executive Director, Council for a Livable World.

    “As people of faith committed to peace, justice, and responsible stewardship of public resources, the Friends Committee on National Legislation strongly supports the Investing in Children Before Missiles (ICBM) Act. We oppose pouring billions into new nuclear weapon systems, especially one that’s so consistently over budget and behind schedule. It’s time to end the wasteful spending on the Sentinel program and invest instead in schools and communities,” said Allen Hester, Legislative Representative for Nuclear Disarmament & Pentagon Spending, Friends Committee on National Legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Analysis of China’s Economic Growth Drivers for the First Half of the Year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    On July 15, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China released data showing that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the first half of 2025 was 66.0536 trillion yuan. In terms of constant prices, the year-on-year growth reached 5.3%. NBS Deputy Director Sheng Laiyun noted that since the beginning of this year, the national economy has withstood the pressure and, despite the difficulties, continues to develop steadily, accumulating new driving forces for growth and improving the circulation of economic processes.

    As the data show, in the first half of the year, the contribution of final consumption expenditure to economic growth was 52%, gross capital formation was 16.8%, and net exports of goods and services was 31.2%. Of these “three driving forces” of the economy, consumption remains the main factor in GDP growth.

    According to Wang Xiaosong, professor at the Institute of Economics at Renmin University of China, the data for the first half of the year show that the Chinese economy is developing steadily while maintaining stability, demonstrating its high resilience and potential for future growth. This is mainly due to China’s solid industrial base – both the manufacturing and service sectors have made significant progress in recent years. The indicators for the first half of the year show that added value and investment in machinery are growing rapidly, demonstrating the high resilience and potential for development of the Chinese economy. In addition, the government has taken a number of measures to stabilize growth. Both fiscal policy and targeted monetary policy have had a very positive effect.

    In the first half of the year, the consumer market continued to gain momentum, and the potential of the super-large Chinese market was steadily unleashed, demonstrating the dynamism of the Chinese economy. In terms of market sales, the total retail sales volume of consumer goods in the first half of the year was 24.55 trillion yuan, up 5% year-on-year.

    According to Qi Yunlan, deputy department director and research fellow at the Institute of Market Economy, Development Research Center of the State Council, this year, with the effective combination of policies to actively support consumption and the continued optimization of the consumption structure, the domestic consumer market has improved significantly. The trade-in program has been expanded and improved, which has stimulated the acceleration of growth in commodity consumption.

    According to statistics, in the first half of this year, China’s industrial production rapidly gained momentum, and the machinery and high-tech manufacturing industries showed good growth dynamics. The added value of machinery increased by 10.2% compared with the same period last year, and that of high-tech manufacturing by 9.5%. From January to May, the number of applications for valid invention patents in China approached 5 million, up 12.8% year-on-year.

    According to Lian Ping, chairman of the China Forum of Chief Economists and director of the Guangkai Institute of Industrial Research, the economic performance in the first six months generally exceeded market expectations, with the main feature being the release of pent-up demand and the improvement of the economic structure. Consumption growth was higher than market expectations and significantly recovered from the previous year. In addition, production and investment in the manufacturing industry showed steady positive dynamics, especially in areas related to new-quality productive forces, where the growth rate exceeded the double-digit threshold.

    In the first half of the year, the total volume of import and export trade was 21.7876 trillion yuan, up 2.9% year-on-year. Machinery exports grew by 9.5% to account for 60% of total exports.

    Qin Tai, deputy director and chief macroeconomic analyst at Huafu Securities Research Institute, said that two key factors played a decisive role in the first half of the year. First, financial subsidies for durable goods provided a significant stimulus effect. Second, China’s industrial chain, with its integrity, advanced technology and resilience, performed well.

    Sheng Laiyun said that the economy as a whole performed steadily in the first half of the year, showing positive dynamics while maintaining stability, which is a very valuable achievement. Since the beginning of this year, China has been implementing more active and effective macroeconomic policies, which has played an important role in maintaining stability. According to the instructions of the central government, relevant departments will speed up the implementation of a set of measures for the second half of the year in the near future, and they will continue to play a key role in ensuring the stable functioning of the economy.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Exploring the societal impacts of medicines

    Source: PHARMAC

    “Right now, our decision-making framework—the Factors for Consideration—looks at how a medicine affects the person who needs it, their whānau, and the health system,” says Dr David Hughes, Pharmac’s Director of Advice and Assessment

    Like countries such as Australia, Canada, and the UK, our economic evaluations focus on the health system perspective. That means we look at how well a medicine works and what it will cost the health system in New Zealand.

    But there are other ways to look at the value of funding a medicine – for example, through a societal lens.

    “Medicines can have an impact on New Zealanders well beyond the hospital room. They can help people stay in work, reduce the need for unpaid care, and ease financial pressure on families,” says Dr Hughes.

    To begin exploring this idea, Pharmac partnered with researchers at Erasmus University in the Netherlands last year and is now working with the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA) at Erasmus University – world leaders of the ‘societal perspective.’

    Their pilot study showed that using a societal perspective can change how New Zealand values medicines. Greater value was identified for treatments for chronic conditions affecting working-age people, for example, when broader impacts were considered.

    Pharmac is now commissioning two more assessments from iMTA. The Erasmus team will also train Pharmac staff to apply this approach in future assessments.

    Pharmac has also been talking with the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA) to share perspectives on measuring societal impacts. At the same time, the CDA has been piloting its own assessment of an expanded societal perspective.

    “We’re building our capability to see what it would look like if our assessments reflect the value of medicines not just to the health system, but to the whole of society,” says Dr Hughes.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Popi Sotiriadou, Associate Professor of Sport Management – Director Business Innovation, Griffith University

    MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images

    Most sports look to support their athletes to become “faster, higher, stronger” – in reference to the Olympic Games’ original motto – so it is perhaps surprising that cycling’s world governing body is trying to slow down elite riders.

    However, there’s good reason the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) recently announced new rules to slow riders down.

    These rules – which apply to elite road and cyclo-cross mass-start events for men and women such as the Tour de France – come into place shortly and are aimed at improving rider safety.




    Read more:
    I rode the Tour de France to study its impact on the human body – here’s what I learned


    What are the new rules?

    From August 1, a new bicycle gearing regulation will kick in.

    Professional cyclists will only be allowed to use a 54-tooth front chainring with an 11-tooth rear cog.

    This replaces the current common setup of 54-10.

    To put this into context, a 54-tooth chainring is the big front gear on a bike and the 11-tooth cog is a small rear gear. Moving to a slightly bigger cog (54-11) makes it harder to hit top speeds: the change from a 54-10 to a 54-11 gear setup could reduce the top speed by about 2.4 kilometres per hour.

    Pro riders can reach incredible speeds during descents, sometimes surpassing 130 kilometres per hour.

    Then, from January 1, 2026, handlebars must become wider, increasing from a minimum 350–360 millimetres width (depending on the event) to at least 400mm wide.

    The handlebar width affects how a rider controls their bike: narrower bars reduce frontal surface area, making a rider more aerodynamic which again means a faster ride.

    This is especially useful in time trials or sprints.

    Wider bars offer better stability and control, helping navigate tight turns, peloton traffic, or crosswinds.

    The UCI has also announced plans to introduce a formal helmet approval protocol in 2027, which will include separate standards for helmets used in mass-start events and time trials.

    This shift suggests helmets may soon be subject to the same pre-race approval process as frames and wheels, potentially leading to safer, more regulated head protection.

    New rules, different opinions

    Professional cycling is getting faster due to stronger athletes, better training and advanced, lighter equipment.

    As a result, high-speed crashes, especially downhill or in crowded sprint finishes, have become more common and more dangerous.

    The UCI maintain the new regulations are part of a broader strategy to mitigate speed-related risks, enhance safety and uphold the integrity of the sport.

    However, these measures have sparked debate within the cycling community.

    Some elite cyclists, particularly those who have suffered severe crashes and injuries, suggest it is time safety caught up with technology.

    Wout van Aert, who suffered a severe knee injury in September 2024 during a wet descent, said:

    Limiting the number of gears would make the sport much safer.

    Chris Froome, four-time Tour de France winner, also said he supported strategies “to keep the speeds down on the descents”.

    The Professional Cycling Council supports testing gear ratio limits.

    It is also likely these changes could limit cutting-edge innovations that only wealthy teams can afford. This would in turn narrow technological disparities across teams.

    Former pro Michael Barry though believes gear restrictions are not the answer, and the UCI should instead focus on improved course design and inspection, better barriers and crash protective clothing.

    Technology experts agree, arguing speed is determined more by a rider’s power output and aerodynamic drag than by gear ratios. To enhance safety, they propose alternative solutions such as real-time rider tracking, crash-protective clothing, improved course design and inspection and faster medical response.

    The wider handlebar rule has also stirred controversy, especially among smaller-framed riders, many of whom are women, who typically ride with 360–380mm handlebars for better comfort and control.

    Under the new regulation, those forced to use bars that exceed their optimal fit range could end up suffering from poor wrist alignment, increased fatigue and a higher risk of repetitive strain injuries.

    Despite the growth of women’s cycling, the UCI has not made exemptions for smaller riders, raising concerns a one-size-fits-all solution may compromise inclusively and safety.

    Even though regular riders can continue to use the equipment they prefer, what happens in the pro world often shapes non-elite rider preferences and trends, and the bikes sold in stores. If narrower bars are banned at the top level, manufacturers may stop offering them.

    Historically, advancements in aerodynamics, gear ratios and component weights seen in the pro peloton have become standard features on consumer bikes.

    A delicate balance

    The UCI’s new regulations mark a likely shift towards standardised equipment and heightened safety. This deliberate emphasis on safety naturally elevates awareness among all cyclists about the crucial link between equipment choices and rider wellbeing.

    While these restrictions may foster a more level playing field, they also risk curbing the sport’s long-standing tradition of engineering innovation.

    The very appeal of professional cycling has often been intrinsically tied to the relentless pursuit of technological advancements that yield even fractional competitive advantages.

    Striking a balance between ensuring safety and preserving this spirit of ingenuity remains a crucial challenge for the sport’s future.

    Popi Sotiriadou does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Cycling’s governing body is introducing new rules to slow down elite riders. Not everyone’s happy – https://theconversation.com/cyclings-governing-body-is-introducing-new-rules-to-slow-down-elite-riders-not-everyones-happy-260917

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on why it’s ‘a little frustrating’ bidding for COP 31

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Energy and climate issues are front and centre for both sides of politics. The government is struggling with pushback from some regional communities against the rollout of transmission lines and wind farms. At the same time, it will soon have to produce its 2035 target under the Paris climate agreement.

    Meanwhile, the opposition is fractured over whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

    We’re joined on this podcast by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.

    Bowen remains upbeat about the energy transition:

    I think it’s going well. We can always do more, and there’s always more effort needed, and the job is far from done. But when you consider what we’ve achieved over the first three years, I would say pleased but not yet satisfied. We are, by and large, on track for our 43% emissions reduction. Just in the last couple of days, [we saw] some excellent figures about the amount of new renewable electricity connected to the grid.

    So all this is a very significant turnaround from 2022, but I’m far from mission accomplished. There’s still a lot more to do. This is the biggest economic transition our country has undertaken, and you don’t sort of do three years’ work and put your feet up. This is a constant effort, and that’s an effort on which I’m entirely focused.

    Just now, Bowen is also focused on preliminary work for Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Economic Reform Roundtable in August.

    Bowen announces he’ll be hosting two roundtables of his own, feeding into the broad August 19-21 meeting:

    I’ll be holding two roundtables, one on electricity and one on climate adaptation which is going to be an increasing focus of this government and future governments because tragically the world has left it too late to avoid the impacts of climate change. We can hopefully avoid the worst catastrophic impacts of more than 1.5 and two to three degrees.

    On Australia’s bid to host COP in 2026, Bowen says Australia has the votes against the other contender, Turkey, but the decision-making process is informal:

    So one of the things about the process to decide COPs I’ve learnt is it’s quite opaque and there’s no particular timeline and no particular rules to the ballot. I will say, I’ve said before, we’ve got very strong support. So it’s not a matter of going out and getting more votes.

    But there’s no agreed time or process for a ballot. It’s meant to work on a consensus, sort of an old world, sort of gentlemanly approach to say whoever loses will withdraw.

    Despite the delay, Bowen says Australia will be ready if the bid is successful:

    Having said that, the last COP, the one last year, in Azerbaijan, I accept Azerbaijan is a very different country to Australia, but they found out a year in advance as well. And logistically, physically, they put on a very good COP, that can be done. And I know the Premier of South Australia is a very, very enthusiastic supporter of hosting the COP.

    On the Coalition potentially dropping its commitment to net zero by 2050, Bowen calls the target “the basic bare minimum of action”:

    It’s what the IPCC has recommended as what is absolutely necessary to avoid […] the worst catastrophic impacts of [climate change]. To be debating net zero 2050 in Australia this year is like debating whether the sun should come up. It’s the most basic framework. It’s nowhere near enough.

    I think it’s got strong support, and it’s retaining that. I mean, the election result shows that. That we were told to get on with it. Keep going basically.

    I’ll just say this. At least Peter Dutton had net zero as a policy objective. I mean, Sussan may be indicating maybe she won’t. I used to say Peter Dutton would be the worst prime minister for climate than Tony Abbott, and I was correct at the time, but now it’s starting to look like Sussan Ley would be even worse.

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on why it’s ‘a little frustrating’ bidding for COP 31 – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-chris-bowen-on-why-its-a-little-frustrating-bidding-for-cop-31-261763

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: China power into women’s basketball final at Universiade

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China defeated Poland 71-67 after overtime to reach the women’s basketball final at the Rhine-Ruhr World University Games on Wednesday.

    China will face the United States, who edged Hungary 73-71 in the other semifinal, for the championship on Friday.

    Chinese guard Tian Yuanyuan emerged as the hero, scoring all seven of her points in overtime after the two teams were tied 62-62 at the end of regulation.

    China’s small forward Chen Yujie shot nine of 14 for a game-high 24 points, including four of five from beyond the arc. Center Liu Yutong and power forward Tang Zhiting added 14 points apiece.

    Poland’s shooting guard Magdalena Szymkiewicz led her side with 13 points, while 2.01-meter center Kamila Borkowska contributed 12.

    China started strong, jumping out to a 15-7 lead after Liu, Chen and Tang hit back-to-back 3-pointers, prompting Poland’s coach to call a timeout with four minutes left in the first quarter.

    Poland responded with a 26-11 run to take a 33-26 halftime lead.

    China surged back in the third quarter with an 11-0 run to go ahead 37-33 midway through the period. Poland answered with a 10-0 run of its own, capped by two free throws and a layup from Anna Winkowska, to take a 48-45 lead into the fourth.

    Li Xingnuo opened the final quarter with a 3-pointer to level the game at 48-48. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, tying at 58-58 with 1:50 to play.

    Szymkiewicz gave Poland a 60-58 lead with two free throws, but China responded with four straight points on a pair of layups. Poland’s Julia Piestrzynska attacked the basket to tie it 62-62. After Li’s missed 3-pointer, the game went to overtime.

    Poland managed just three points in the extra period, falling behind 69-65 with 18 seconds remaining. A timeout and late foul strategy couldn’t prevent China from sealing the 71-67 win.

    “We have tired legs after yesterday’s hard-fought quarterfinal win against Japan, so you could see we only scored a few points in the second quarter,” said Chinese coach Zhao Xuetong.

    “In the halftime break, I told the players to play as we planned and don’t think much about the result. To tell the truth, we have already reached where we expect before the Games,” added Zhao. “Reaching the last four is OK for us, so everyone is relaxed mentally.”

    MIL OSI China News